HUM 203: Digital Law & Case Studies in Ethics

Overview

This course explores the legal and ethical issues that arise while gathering and transmitting information using digital technology. Students will explore in detail two areas of utmost concern, libel and invasion of privacy, as well as shield laws, malice, generic video, rules governing access to sources, and privacy issues that arise from using digital technology. The course also explores digital copyright law in detail. Law and ethics are intertwined. While laws are rules of living and conduct enforced by an external authority (usually by means of penalties), ethics are the rules of living and conduct that you impose upon yourself, or that your profession strongly suggests you should impose upon yourself, and few enforceable penalties exist. At its core ethics include your own determination of what is fair, truthful, accurate, compassionate, and responsible conduct. Often, unethical activities also are illegal. Case studies in ethics will help the student further differentiate between what is acceptable legal and ethical behavior, and what is not.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Recognize and avoid legal problems while gathering and communicating information using digital technology.
• Differentiate between legal and ethical constraints, and create a personal code of ethics that helps govern information gathering behavior and dissemination.
• Work with a variety of information sources, including police and military, with confidence arising from knowledge of the basic laws governing digital communication.

Required Texts
HUM 203 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore