Information technology law: the law and society

Information Technology Law: The Law and Society is the ideal companion for a course of study on information technology law and the ways in which it is evolving in response to rapid technological and social change. This ground-breaking work is the first textbook to systematically examine how the law and legal process of the UK interact with the modern ‘information society’ and the fast-moving process of digitisation. It looks at the challenges that this fast pace of change brings to the established legal order, which was developed to meet the needs of a traditional physical society. To address these issues, the book begins by defining the information society and discussing how it may be regulated. From there it moves to questions of internet governance and rights and responsibilities in the digital environment. Particular attention is paid to key regulatory ‘pressure points’, including: copyright for digital products; identity fraud; regulating social networks and platforms; defamation; electronic commerce; and privacy and surveillance. Possible future challenges and opportunities are outlined and discussed, including e-government, ambient computing, and the development of web 3.0. The author’s highly original and thought-provoking approach to the subject also makes it essential reading for researchers, IT professionals, and policymakers. This second edition includes expanded coverage of defamation and privacy as well as substantial revisions to Part II on the governance of the information society.