Announcements

Academy Documents

Kindly access the Students' Policies & Forms by clicking on the button below. The following documents, among others, can be found there: Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, Students' Privacy Notice, Deferral, Suspension, and Cancellation Policy, Assignment Extension Policy, Re-Sit Policy, Complaints Procedure Policy, Equality Policy, and Student Disciplinary Policy.

Students' Policies & Forms

Online Sessions Link

To join the online sessions for this module, please click on the button below. If you are not already signed in to your Zoom account, you will be prompted to register your attendance. You will also need to enter the password provided below.

Join Session

Meeting ID: 845 8848 8695
Passcode: 913543

Please ensure that your name and surname appear as registered for the study programme, as this is essential for recording your attendance.

Lecture Schedule & Notes

Lecture notes will be available during the week following the respective lecture. Schedule dates are indicative and may change. All changes, if any, may be communicated via email, SMS or telephone calls.

Lecturer/s  

Dr Vernoica Campbell
Dr Alexia Valenzia

Lecture Summaries & Suggested Reading 

Lecture 1 - Introduction to IT and Data Protection Law - Dr Alexia Valenzia

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• Introduction to digitisation
• The legal challenges of the information society
• Digitisation and the law
• Introduction to ICT law
• Net Neutrality
• Regulating the Information Society Service
• Ethical Concerns
• Social Issues
• Brief overview of topics to be discussed in this module:
  • Cybercrime & Computer Misuse
  • Smart Contracts
  • AI
  • Intellectual Property
  • E-Commerce

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 2 - The implications of IT Law on legal processes (I) - Dr Alexia Valenzia

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• The role of local and inter-state IT crime authorities;
• The application of IT in jurisprudence;
• Understanding the concept of cybercrime and the Criminal Code such as provisions on computer misuse.
• Compare the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime with the Malta Cybercrime System.
• Apply substantive cybercrime provisions to a case describing a (potential) cybercriminal activity.
• Apply procedural cybercrime provisions to a case describing a cyber-investigation.
• Argue how specific types of cybercrime can be combatted.
• Discuss the legal aspects of cybercrime.
• Discuss a case study involving cybercrime.
• Identify substantial issues together with any remedial measures that may apply in the fields.

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 3 - The implications of IT Law on legal processes (II) - Dr Alexia Valenzia

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• Lex specialis:
  • VFA framework/MiCA
  • Proposed AI EU Regulation
• Intellectual property rights
  • Copyright
  • Patent and patentability issues with software
  • Domain names
  • Trademarks

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 4 - E-Commerce - Dr Alexia Valenzia

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• Electronic contracts
• The role of smart contracts
• Electronic payments such as PSD II and EMD II
• Consumer protection – distance and online selling;
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects concerning contracts for the online and other distance sales of goods.
• Directive 2019/770 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services (Digital Content Directive);
• Salient considerations under the Digital Services Act Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act)
• The implications of the Digital Markets Act REGULATION (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 5 - An Introduction to Data Protection Legislation & Freedom of Information - Dr Veronica Campbell

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• The concept, nature of and necessity for data privacy and the need to protect it through legislation;
• Grasp the basic concept of the need for privacy and the rights related thereto, especially in the context of the digital age;
• Application of Freedom of Information Act (Cap 496)
• Illegal content liability and freedom of expression (Criminal Code provisions)
• Media and defamation in the digital age

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 6 - The Foundational Concepts of Data Protection Law

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• GDPR:
  • The distinction between data controllers and data processors;
  • The notion of positive consent in data issues;
  • Data breaches, notification, reporting and risk management;
  • The role of local and inter-state data protection authorities; and
  • The application of data protection and privacy law in jurisprudence.

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Lecture 7 - Comparative analysis of common IT & data privacy laws within the EU - Dr Veronica Campbell

The following topics will be covered in this lecture:

• Comparative analyses between the application of common IT & data privacy law across the European Union member states; and
• Identifying new concepts and developments in data protection legislation today:
  • E-Privacy Regulation;
  • Cookie war;
  • New SCCs.

Core Reading List

• Edwards, L., 2018. Law, Policy and the Internet. Bloomsbury: Hart Publishing.
• Borg Knight, R., Gonzi, P. and Sciberras, A., 2018. GDPR For HR Professionals
• Voigt, P., 2018. EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Springer International PU

Supplementary Reading List

• The GDPR Handbook: A Guide To Implementing The Eu General Data Protection Regulation.
• Schwartz, P. and Solove, D., 2019. Privacy Law Fundamentals.
• Bainbridge, D., Introduction to Information Technology Law 6th Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.

Methods of Assessment

2 out of a choice of 4 assignment titles - 100% weighting

Assignment

You are required to choose two of the four questions available in the Assignment Submission Form made available by clicking the button below. The assignment must be submitted no later than Thursday, 10 July 2025, along with the Assignment Submission Form. Please ensure that you indicate the question you have addressed on the Assignment Submission Form.

The Assignment Submission Form will be made available here at a later date.

For guidance on how to plan, draft, and submit your assignment, please refer to the 21 Academy presentation on Writing and Submitting Your Assignment by clicking the button below.

Writing and Submitting Your Assignment

We are also providing the 21 Academy's Assignments Rubric for your reference. This rubric is a performance-based assessment tool that tutors will use for grading, and it will help you understand the requirements of the assignment and how it will be assessed.

Assignments Rubric

For referencing purposes, please use the OSCOLA Referencing Guide available by clicking the button below.

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

Submitting Assignment - Turnitin

The Academy will notify you via email when the assignment questions become available. Shortly after, you will receive another email from Turnitin, likely on the same day, confirming your enrolment in a "class" where you can upload your assignment(s).

Please ensure that your assignments are submitted no later than 23:59 on the assignment submission deadline, as indicated on the Assignment Submission form or in the Turnitin "class."

At 21 Academy, you have the option to submit multiple drafts before the final submission deadline. The version uploaded at the deadline will be treated as your final submission for assessment. Please note that Turnitin evaluates the same assignment twice within a 24-hour period, so any additional submissions during this time will not be reviewed until the 24-hour period has passed. Ensure that your final submission does not exceed 20% similarity, particularly when using direct quotations.

Follow this very short video to understand how to submit your assignment through Turnitin

Submitting a Paper

To understand the similarity report generated by Turnitin follow this 1 minute video

Understanding the Similarity Report

Referencing Style

Law students should use the OSCOLA referencing style as it is the standard citation system for legal writing in Malta. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and clarity when referencing legal sources, which is essential for academic and professional work. The video below provides detailed guidance on how to reference using OSCOLA. Please also refer to the OSCOLA Referencing Guide by clicking the button below

OSCOLA Referencing Guide