Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa - Napoli

Research

      

European Protection Law of Individuals in Relation to New Technologies - PROTECH

Description of the Research Project:
European Protection Law of Individuals in Relation to New Technologies - PROTECH

Proposal: Call for Proposals 2019 - EACEA-03-2018
Application number of the project: 611876-EPP-1-2019-1-IT-EPPJMO-CHAIR

Chair Holder: Prof. Avv. Lucilla Gatt
Academic Staff Members: Prof. Ilaria Amelia Caggiano, Prof. Judith Rochfeld, Prof. Célia Zolinsky, Prof. Francesco Rossi, Prof. Roberta Montinaro, Prof. Raffaella Cristiano, Prof. Nóra Ní Loideáin, Avv. Ph.D. Paola Grimaldi, Avv. Ph.D. Anita Mollo, Avv. Ph.D. Maria Cristina Gaeta, Ph.D. Veronica Carriero, Avv. Ph.D.(c) Livia Aulino, Prof. Giuseppe Storti, Prof. Raffaele Montella

Starting date: 1^st September 2019
Deadline: 31^st August 2022
Website: www.protech-jeanmonnet.eu

Introduction

The Jean Monnet Project is articulated in a complex of didactic-scientific activities carried out by the in "European Protection Law of Individuals in relation to New Technologies" (PROTECH) at the Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa (Law Department), with regard to the degree courses in law and economics held by Prof. Avv. Lucilla Gatt.

By carrying out the aforementioned activities, the aim is to highlight the protective approach of European law that regulates the relationship between human beings and the digital environment, alias artificial, since this environment places ontologically the former in a position of vulnerability even if they are not subjects affected from disability.

The category of "vulnerable individuals" includes, in fact, all natural persons, major and minor of age, without specific disabilities, who, however, acting in a digital environment, are exposed to the risk of damage for various reasons (minor/old age, asymmetry of contractual power or information). We include human embryos in this macro-category of "vulnerable individuals" acting in an artificial environment, as an example of subjects exposed to the risk of damages because they do not act but they are ab origine created in a technological environment.

Project specifications

1. Objective: Creation of a Chair in "European Protection Law of Individuals in relation to New Technologies" (PROTECH) at the Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa (Department of Law) with special reference to: (a.) Data subjects in digital habitats, with particular regard to Minors and Elderly Persons; (b.) Consumers in digital habitats, with particular regard to Minors and Elderly Persons; (c.) Embryos, unborn children, new forms of life created in laboratory.
2. Innovative character of the project: focusing on the vulnerability aspect of natural persons in their interaction with digital and technological environments in general and regardless of the presence of specific physical or legal weaknesses. The multidisciplinary character of the proposed activities, which cover a wide range of topics (not only legal) and actions (lectures, workshops, seminars, production of scientific papers, publications). The multidisciplinary nature of the topics involved justifies the different contexts of the students attending the course.
3. Innovative teaching methodology: the didactic activities of PROTECH chair are characterized by innovative teaching methodologies aimed at developing students' awareness of the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulations adopted at European level in the context of possible relationships between individuals and technologies. It pursues a strong involvement of students and learners. Direct interaction with the chair holder, colleagues, scholars, civil society and institutional actors will be stimulated through workshops, seminars and lectures, organized every year on topics concerning the economic and legal aspects of solidarity.
4. Impact:
(a) The activities constitute an educational offer aimed at students and open to a large audience (undergraduate and post-graduate students in Law, Economics, Phycology, Behavioral Science, but also professionals and policy-makers).
(b) Creation of the dedicated website and an open access online database containing the relevant legislative, doctrinal and jurisprudential materials on the "European legislation for the protection of individuals who operate in a digital environment".
(c) Creation of a section dedicated to the vulnerability of the natural person in a digital environment in the context of the European Journal of Privacy Law & Technologies. Publication of research conducted through multidisciplinary methods promoted by the holder of the chair and final collective publication of an e-book entitled "Building a New Strategy for European Protection Law in technological environments", which will be the result of all the activities conducted during the three-year project.