MITS 5100G - Law & Ethics of IT Security

Laws govern commercial and personal interactions whether they take place online or offline. However, new technologies create novel ways for people to communicate and interact, and the law does not always adapt very well. But, when one knows what to look for, successes can also be found. This course provides an overview of the laws and professional ethics that IT Security Professionals must understand—both because they are bound by those laws and because these laws can be important tools. In the early weeks of the course, basic ideas and dynamics are introduced that will help analyze and discuss the interplay between technology and law. Students then study one or two substantive areas of law each week, including e-contracts; e-regulation; jurisdiction; evidence; online crime; intellectual property; privacy and data breach liability; Spam; cloud computing; and emerging areas such as IOT, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies. Students also examine professional ethics developed by their professional community and peers since ethical frameworks can sometimes provide direction where the law fails to do so.
Credit hours: 3