Logistics

Professor
Steven M. Bellovin and Alex Abdo
Time
Tuesday 18:10–20:00

Scheduling Note There is an unfortunate mismatch between the Law School's academic calendar and that of the Engineering School. Classes will start on Tuesday, January 11. For the benefit of those law students who cannot make this first class, it (and only it) will be recorded.

Room
Zoom
Office Hours
Bellovin
See the web site
Abdo
  • Thursdays from 4–5 p.m. ET
  • Fridays from 1–2 p.m. ET
via Zoom

Summary

The First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution—which guarantee free speech and prohibit unreasonable governmental invasions of privacy—have seen a curious effect from the Internet and related technologies. On the one hand, the Internet has created “the most participatory marketplace of mass speech that this country—and indeed the world—has yet seen”, and it has enabled new forms of secure communication. On the other, it has created unprecedented opportunities for surveillance and corporate control. This seminar will bring together professors and select students from the law school and computer science to discuss these issues. Classes will cover both the technical and legal aspects of free speech, anonymity and privacy in today's online world. No prior technical background (for law students) or legal background (for CS students) is assumed; both groups, however, will be expected to learn something of the other's field.

Readings

As assigned, per lecture.

Prerequisites

Permission of the instructor.

Assignments

One main goal of this class is to bring together students from each school to share their perspectives on problems of global interest. Early in the semester, the professors will assign each student to a group of four students, two from each school. Each group will focus on some problem about privacy at the intersection of law and technology and will produce a written paper of about 6,000 words. (We will suggest that the best papers be submitted for publication.)

There will also be a presentation to the class of each project. This will be during the assigned slot for the final exam for the class, per the Registrar's calendar.

Please familiarize yourself with the proper methods of citation and attribution, for both traditional publications and legal writings, e.g., statutes and cases. There are various useful resources online; we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with these various styles before conducting your research. In particular, law students must use Blue Book-style citations.

Columbia University does not tolerate cheating and/or plagiarism in any form. Those students who violate the Code of Academic & Professional Conduct of their relevant school will be reported and subject to the appropriate disciplinary procedures.

Grading

Final Project
30%
Interim report
50%
Final report
Class presentation
Class participation
20%