LL4S1 Half Unit
Cyberlaw
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Neli Frost
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Finance, MSc in Media and Communications (Data and Society), MSc in Media and Communications (Media and Communications Governance), MSc in Regulation and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
This course does not require an in-depth understanding of contemporary computer technology.
This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.
Course content
This course examines and discusses topical issues in relation to law and technology. We begin by addressing issues relating to network regulation or control including questions such as “can internet-enabled communications be regulated?”, with what aims? and “who is competent to police online content and activity?”. We discuss whether the internet can and should be neutral and politically charged questions regarding regulation of platforms and regulation by platforms. In the second half of the term, we will delve further into these issues through topical examples such as AI and justice, tackling online “harms” and regulating online platforms and AI systems.
Students taking the course will be expected to develop knowledge and understanding of the different values brought to bear in the regulation of new media technologies and communities formed through such technologies and the factors leading towards choices of particular values, regulatory institutions and process. Such knowledge and understanding will operate both at the theoretical level and the level of particular examples of regulatory regimes. Students will be expected to apply organisational and analytical skills to the investigation of evidence and problems and show effective communication through written work and seminar discussion. Students shall research an assessed extended essay.
Teaching
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Students should submit an essay plan and working bibliography for the assessed essay. All students are expected to contribute to a series of class and online exercises, and to submit one 2,000 word formative essay.
Indicative reading
• Murray, Information Technology Law: The Law and Society (OUP, 5th ed, 2023)
• Anu Bradford, Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology (OUP 2023)
Husovec, Principles of the Data Services Act (OUP, 2024)
• Reed & Murray, Rethinking the Jurisprudence of Cyberspace (Edward Elgar, 2020)
• Pasquale, New Laws of Robotics: Defending Human Expertise in the Age of AI (Belknap, 2020)
• Murray, The Regulation of Cyberspace (Routledge, 2007)
• Reed, Making Laws for Cyberspace (OUP, 2012)
• Lessig, Code Ver, 2.0 (Basic Books, 2006)
• Custers & Fosch-Villaronga (Eds), Law and Artificial Intelligence (Springer, 2022)
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 60
Average class size 2024/25: 30
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4S1 Cyberlaw Course Video Guide https://youtu.be/wTOmRAZbSBs
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills