Legal Basis for Security and Privacy

The objective of this course is to introduce the concepts of confidentiality, privacy, and the legal-philosophical perspectives that address the intersections between security, privacy, and surveillance. Following an initial phase of legal literacy, the course will explore living law in the field in order to:
a) become familiar with the main regulatory provisions of the GDPR, the NIS II Directive and its national transposition, and the AI Act;
b) understand the legal foundations of security and privacy through relevant case law and judicial interpretations across different legal systems;
c) grasp the real-world applications of these concepts by examining relevant administrative practices and a case study focused on migration, international protection, and border control.

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the origins of the concept of privacy and explain both its role in guaranteeing fundamental rights and the problematic aspects related to the interplay between privacy and security. They will also be able to navigate the relevant legal sources, including not only formal law but also living law, thus enabling them to elaborate the acquired concepts through tools drawn from case law, legal scholarship, and administrative practices. Students will be equipped to develop critical perspectives for thesis work and research paths that combine applied focus with speculative and conceptual skills, also thanks to the case studies discussed during the course.