Grade will be assigned based both on concepts and practical application.

90%  - 100%         A

80%  -  89%          B

70%  -  79%          C

60%  -  69%          D

0%    -  59%          F

Course Requirements

3 Exams @ 100 points each: multiple choice, true/false, short answer, essay, matching

8 Blackboard Discussions @ 25 points each

8 Quizzes/Reading Checks @ 25 points each

8 Projects @ 25 points each (Case Briefs/Analysis, Comparative Analysis, Policy Proposals, Policy/Compliance Assignments, Research Papers, Presentations, Short Legal Briefs, Debate)

Weekly Participation/Professionalism @ 100 points total

[Overall, 1000 total points may be earned]

Approved Course Texts/Readings:

Cybersecurity Law, Jeff Kosseff, 3rd edition, 2023. Wiley, ISBN: 9781119822165

Course Description:  This seminar explores the legal system’s response to the rapidly evolving challenges posed by cybercrime. We will examine how courts and legislators are struggling to adapt traditional legal principles to digital misconduct, the role (and limitations) of law enforcement, tensions between security and privacy in the fight against cybercrime, the legal implications of the global reach of cybercrime and the growing threat of state actors, and the impact of government regulation in promoting cybersecurity.

We also will seek to provide students with a basic literacy regarding cybersecurity issues likely to touch nearly every lawyer’s practice. Students will learn about common types of cybercrime and security measures, lawyers’ ethical obligations concerning cybersecurity, and the role of lawyers in helping clients meet their cybersecurity-related legal responsibilities and responding to cybersecurity incidents.

1. Define law and the structure of the US legal system.
2. Distinguish between various types of cybercrime laws.
3. Distinguish intellectual property laws, including benefits and limitations.
4. Explain the scope and limitations of privacy laws.
5. Determine legal behavior versus illegal behavior within the scope of relevant laws.
6. Identify privacy concerns and the means to protect one’s privacy.

 Week 1: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

• Define law and its sources (statutory, case law, regulations)
• Structure of the U.S. legal system (federal/state courts, roles)
• Legal research and analysis skills

Week 2: The Internet and the Law

• Evolution of cyberspace and its legal implications
• Jurisdiction in the digital age
• Freedom of speech and content regulation online

Week 3: Cyber Crime Laws

• Computer crime laws (hacking, malware, cyberbullying, unauthorized access)
• Data breach notification laws
• Identity theft and fraud laws
• Case studies and examples

Weeks 4-5: Intellectual Property (IP) Laws

• Copyright law (software, digital works)
• Patent law (innovations, inventions)
• Trademark law (brands, logos)
• Trade secret protection
• Domain name disputes
• Fair use and limitations
• Protection of creative works online: music, software, literature
• Online file sharing and copyright infringement
• The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

Week 6: Exam 1, Assignments due

Weeks 7-8: Privacy Laws and Data Protection

• Constitutional privacy protections
• The right to privacy in the digital age
• Key privacy laws (HIPAA, FERPA, GDPR)
• The Fourth Amendment and online activity
• Electronic data privacy (emails, browsing)
• Workplace monitoring and employee privacy
• Data collection practices: cookies, tracking technologies.
• Data protection principles
• Encryption and anonymization techniques
• Social media and online privacy concerns
• Surveillance and monitoring issues

Week 9: Cybersecurity and Risk Management

• Strategies for protecting personal information online.
• Cybersecurity threats: phishing, malware, social engineering
• Ethical hacking and vulnerability assessments

Week 10: Determining Legal vs Illegal Behavior

• Analyzing fact patterns and scenarios
• Corporate compliance and policies
• Ethical dilemmas and decision-making frameworks

Week 11: Exam 2, Assignments due

Weeks 12-13: Emerging Issues in Cyber Law and Case Studies

• Cloud computing and data jurisdiction
• Internet of Things (IoT) security/privacy
• Artificial intelligence and legal impacts
• Cryptocurrency and financial regulations
• AI and algorithmic bias
• Blockchain technology and legal implications

Week 14: Social Media and Cyber Law

• Legal issues with user-generated content and online speech
• Defamation and cyberbullying on social media platforms
• Content moderation and online communities

Week 15: Cyber Contracts and E-Commerce

• Formation and enforcement of electronic contracts
• Consumer protection laws in online transactions
• Digital signatures and encryption

Week 16: Exam 3, Assignments due

Professor Ralph E. Hooper

Office Phone: 512-223-2599

Office Location: Room 1300.25 San Gabriel Campus

Virtual Office Hours: Mon & Wed 1:00 pm --3:30 pm via Zoom (email for appt.)

ACC email: ralph.hooper@austincc.edu -- Zoom will be available for meetings

Instructor Website: https://hooper.accprofessors.com/ 

Instructor Bio: I have been teaching at the college level for over 35 years in both mathematics and computer science. My research interests are computational thinking and educational technology. I enjoy travel and baseball.