Ai and Media Law
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of media law in relation to the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence systems. The course is thus intended to give a general framework of media law and the constitutional and supranational principles on which it is based, and then to focus on issues related to the impact of the internet and AI on the production, circulation, and consumption of media.
Specifically, particular attention will be given to some of the most significant problems that have emerged so far and that often still lack complete regulation at the legislative level: the liability regime for offenses committed by AI systems; generative AI systems and copyright protection; defamation, hate speech, and deepfakes.
Specifically, particular attention will be given to some of the most significant problems that have emerged so far and that often still lack complete regulation at the legislative level: the liability regime for offenses committed by AI systems; generative AI systems and copyright protection; defamation, hate speech, and deepfakes.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students will have an in-depth knowledge of media law both in general and, more importantly, in relation to artificial intelligence systems. The students will have developed skills in analyzing regulatory and jurisprudential data and will have gained an understanding of how media law adheres to certain established principles while also being subject to significant pressures from technological development. The students will have developed the ability to frame the main issues related to AI systems from a legal perspective and will have acquired the skill to identify possible solutions to emerging problems in the field of media law.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The first part of the course introduces students to Media Law as a distinct field of legal study. It examines, from both historical and comparative perspectives, the freedoms of expression, information, and access to information within the European and American constitutional traditions, international human rights instruments, and the legal framework of the European Union. A particular focus is placed on the relationship between media and democracy, emphasizing the central role of freedom of expression in democratic constitutional systems and in the multilevel protection of fundamental rights.
The course focuses primarily on the national and European legal framework governing the media, including the press, radio, television, the Internet, and social media, highlighting the decisive role played by judicial decisions in the development of Media Law, including in civil law systems. The course explores several contemporary issues, including freedom of the press on the Internet, the right to criticism and satire, the protection of privacy and personal identity, the right to be forgotten, commercial advertising, and copyright protection. Special emphasis is placed on the regulation of the Internet, including online liability, anonymity, the protection of online content, fake news and disinformation, hate speech, the role of digital platforms in monitoring and removing illegal content, data protection, and the relationship between technology and democracy. These topics are examined primarily through the analysis of landmark decisions delivered by Italian courts, European courts, and selected foreign jurisdictions.
The second part of the course addresses the legal challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence, particularly in media law. The analysis focuses on the impact of machine learning systems on communication and information, examining both the risks they pose to fundamental rights and the opportunities they offer for the protection and promotion of those rights. The course will devote attention both to algorithms that select, rank, or remove online content (such as those used by Facebook and Google) and to generative AI systems capable of creating content (such as ChatGPT).
The course examines the first legislative instruments specifically devoted to Artificial Intelligence, including the European Union's AI Act and the Italian law n. 132/2025, together with the individual statutory provisions that have been enacted to regulate AI-related issues. Since legislation expressly addressing Artificial Intelligence remains relatively limited and has only recently been adopted, considerable attention is devoted to the most significant judicial decisions in this field.
The course covers the following topics in particular: the legal framework governing Artificial Intelligence; liability for activities carried out by AI systems; copyright protection for data used to train AI systems; the possibility of recognizing copyright protection for AI-generated outputs; defamation and Artificial Intelligence; the regulation of deepfakes; hate speech and Artificial Intelligence; and Artificial Intelligence and the protection of personal data.
The course focuses primarily on the national and European legal framework governing the media, including the press, radio, television, the Internet, and social media, highlighting the decisive role played by judicial decisions in the development of Media Law, including in civil law systems. The course explores several contemporary issues, including freedom of the press on the Internet, the right to criticism and satire, the protection of privacy and personal identity, the right to be forgotten, commercial advertising, and copyright protection. Special emphasis is placed on the regulation of the Internet, including online liability, anonymity, the protection of online content, fake news and disinformation, hate speech, the role of digital platforms in monitoring and removing illegal content, data protection, and the relationship between technology and democracy. These topics are examined primarily through the analysis of landmark decisions delivered by Italian courts, European courts, and selected foreign jurisdictions.
The second part of the course addresses the legal challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence, particularly in media law. The analysis focuses on the impact of machine learning systems on communication and information, examining both the risks they pose to fundamental rights and the opportunities they offer for the protection and promotion of those rights. The course will devote attention both to algorithms that select, rank, or remove online content (such as those used by Facebook and Google) and to generative AI systems capable of creating content (such as ChatGPT).
The course examines the first legislative instruments specifically devoted to Artificial Intelligence, including the European Union's AI Act and the Italian law n. 132/2025, together with the individual statutory provisions that have been enacted to regulate AI-related issues. Since legislation expressly addressing Artificial Intelligence remains relatively limited and has only recently been adopted, considerable attention is devoted to the most significant judicial decisions in this field.
The course covers the following topics in particular: the legal framework governing Artificial Intelligence; liability for activities carried out by AI systems; copyright protection for data used to train AI systems; the possibility of recognizing copyright protection for AI-generated outputs; defamation and Artificial Intelligence; the regulation of deepfakes; hate speech and Artificial Intelligence; and Artificial Intelligence and the protection of personal data.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific prerequisites other than the general requirements for admission to the Master's Degree.
Teaching methods
Teaching activities are primarily conducted in person; two two-hour lectures will be delivered online.
The initial lectures, which are intended to provide students with the fundamental principles of Media Law, will follow a lecture-based format. In the remaining sessions, lecture-based teaching will be combined with interactive learning activities, during which students will be encouraged to discuss and critically reflect on the issues under examination: active student participation is strongly encouraged, and lectures are designed to foster discussion and debate. The final sessions will be devoted to student presentations on selected cases and legal issues.
The initial lectures, which are intended to provide students with the fundamental principles of Media Law, will follow a lecture-based format. In the remaining sessions, lecture-based teaching will be combined with interactive learning activities, during which students will be encouraged to discuss and critically reflect on the issues under examination: active student participation is strongly encouraged, and lectures are designed to foster discussion and debate. The final sessions will be devoted to student presentations on selected cases and legal issues.
Teaching Resources
The required readings will be assigned during the lectures.
Students who do not attend the course are required to contact the instructor to obtain the assigned readings.
Students who do not attend the course are required to contact the instructor to obtain the assigned readings.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For students who attend the lectures, assessment will be based partly on work completed during the course and partly on a final oral examination covering the course topics.
Students who do not attend the lectures will take an oral examination based on materials agreed upon in advance with the instructor; to this end, non-attending students are required to contact the instructor well in advance.
In both cases, the oral examination assesses students' knowledge of the legal concepts covered in the course, including their practical application, as well as their ability to exercise independent judgment, communicate effectively, and use appropriate legal terminology.
Students who do not attend the lectures will take an oral examination based on materials agreed upon in advance with the instructor; to this end, non-attending students are required to contact the instructor well in advance.
In both cases, the oral examination assesses students' knowledge of the legal concepts covered in the course, including their practical application, as well as their ability to exercise independent judgment, communicate effectively, and use appropriate legal terminology.
GIUR-05/A - Constitutional and Public Law - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Canzian Nicola
Educational website(s)