LAWHONS 744A/B : Special Topic: Privacy Law

Law

2022 Semester One (1223) / Semester Two (1225) (20 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

Although privacy law in NZ has been developing since the 1980s, the developments (both common law and statute) are incomplete and inadequate. There are many unresolved issues. This makes privacy law a fertile area for research and writing.

In the first semester classes will be led by the course director. Materials will be set for reading, prior to each week's class at which they will be discussed.

Topics are likely to include: the concept of privacy; definitions of privacy; the status of privacy; privacy and related interests; competing interests; sources of privacy law; common law privacy protection - in NZ, Australia, Canada, the UK and the US; the Privacy Act 1993 and the Privacy Act 2020; Codes of Practice; other statutes that address privacy concerns (including NZBoRA and the Broadcasting Act 1989); surveillance; privacy law applied in various contexts (eg. privacy in the workplace; privacy, publicity and the media; health privacy; privacy in education; privacy and children; social media); remedies - both statutory and at common law - for breaches of privacy.

In the second semester each student will make a 30-minute presentation to the class on the individual research topic on which they are writing their research paper, with discussion/feedback. Each week two or three students will give their presentations.

Course Requirements

To complete this course students must enrol in LAWHONS 744 A and B, or LAWHONS 744

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop expertise in current issues associated with the concept of privacy and privacy law in NZ (Capability 1.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Critically evaluate a specific topic in privacy law, through research and writing a Honours seminar paper (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  3. Communicate a research topic to the class in a clear, coherent and effective manner (Capability 4.1)
  4. Identify current issues ion privacy law, and potential solutions (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  5. Develop independent thinking in undertaking individual, self-directed research and writing (Capability 5.2)
  6. Communicate and engage with class members and the course director, to give feedback (including on other students' presentations), exchange ideas and present persuasive arguments (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation 10% Individual Coursework
Essay 80% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Discussions
Presentation
Essay
The 10 marks  available for Discussions will depend on: attendance at all classes; and general contributions to discussion, particularly giving feedback on individual student presentations.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 20-point Honours seminar course taught across both semesters. (10 points are allocated to each semester.). There will be around 48 class hours in this course: 24 hours per semester at the rate of two hours per week. As a general guide, you should expect a workload of an average of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 200 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at all scheduled classes.
As this is a seminar course, classes will not be recorded.
The course  will include live Zoom classes in lieu of in-person classes  if lockdown requires a move to online learning.
Classes for the course are scheduled as a standard two-hour slot each week across both semesters.

Online

In the event that we move to online teaching/learning, attendance will be required at all Zoom classes (at the scheduled weekly two-hour class time).
Where possible, study materials will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The Talis reading list will include both core and optional materials, including (especially) cases and journal articles relevant to each class.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Feedback from the 2019 and 2021 evaluations of this course has been taken into account and the course requirements amended accordingly.


Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Please note that there are no test/s or exam/s for this seminar course. Extensions of time for the submission of the research paper can be given only by a  Student Academic and Support Adviser.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 02/12/2021 11:46 a.m.