Legal and ethical issues in information services 2700-L-API-Z3PIEAUI

After completing the course, the student:

KNOWLEDGE
• has basic knowledge of the legal and ethical conditions shaping information services, with particular reference to information architecture,
• understands fundamental concepts and principles of copyright law, privacy and personal data protection, as well as information ethics
• is familiar with manipulative design patterns (dark patterns) and recognizes their consequences.

SKILLS
• is able to distinguish ethical principles from binding legal regulations,
• can read and interpret selected normative acts with understanding,
• demonstrates the ability to analyse terms of service and privacy policies in terms of their compliance with law and ethical standards,
• applies legal and ethical requirements when creating and using works,
• shows awareness of responsibility and potential consequences of actions in the information sphere,
• develops habits of independent ethical reflection on the functioning of information services,
• constructs logical and coherent arguments regarding the legal and ethical aspects of information services,
• diagnoses multidimensional phenomena and processes within the mediatized reality of contemporary political, economic, and cultural systems.

OTHER COMPETENCES
• recognizes the importance of law and ethics for the quality and credibility of information services,
• uses acquired knowledge and skills to analytically identify problems and phenomena in contemporary information services,
• can diagnose issues emerging at the intersection of legal and ethical systems,
• understands the significance of ethical design in building trust in digital services,
• critically evaluates solutions implemented in professional practice.

Assessment methods:
- description,
- explanation with elements of lecture,
- discussion,
- project.

Assessment criteria:
- attendance (to pass students may be absent during classes at most 1 time; one excused absence from classes is not included in the admissible absences limit; the lecturer does not allow for making up classes missed without a justified absence),
- active participation in the classes (activity, working on tasks),
- a group final project (case study of a manipulative interface) presented during the last class or written test based on material discussed in class (pass mark – at least 50% of the total possible cumulative score).
Completion of the course will be possible for students who have fulfilled all of the above criteria. The lecturer does not allow students to improve positive grades.

In written and multimedia assignments (both coursework and home), the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems is exceptionally permitted, e.g. for structuring content, obtaining suggestions regarding the form of the work, or receiving language support when working with publications in foreign languages. Any use of AI must be clearly indicated in a note included in the assignment. The final version should constitute the student’s own independent contribution, and the student bears full responsibility for the content and academic integrity of the work.

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