Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MCT3004

 
TITLE Exchange of Electronic Evidence

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Media, Communications & Technology Law

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit aims at introducing students to key concepts and principles in electronic evidence. It will focus on selected legal issues surrounding the preservation, retrieval and handling of electronic evidence. It will assist students in identifying legal frameworks that may be applicable and discuss how existing lacunae can be bridged. The study unit will take a broad view to electronic evidence touching on criminal law investigations, including by the International Criminal Court, anti-cartel investigations, and civil litigation. The study unit will also invite students to analyse the relevant provisions in national legislation and the Cybercrime conevention (Council of Europe Convention 185).

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims at introducing students to the emerging field of electronic evidence. It aims to provide an introduction to the practical aspects of forensic computing investigations, and to offer a legal overview of legislation and the main legal issues related to digital forensics and cyber-crime.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. identify and reflect upon the main kinds of misuse of electronic devices, and commonly exploited computer vulnerabilities;
b. relate the importance of electronic evidence and assess the level of access required to obtain certain electronic information;
c. outline the main European legislation relating to electronic evidence, and of some strengths, weaknesses and controversial issues.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. research on electronic evidence;
b. write about selected legal issues on electronic evidence;
c. deliver a presentation on selected legal issues on electronic evidence.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Relevant journal articles will be provided in class.

Main texts
Eoghan Casey, Digital Evidence and Computer Crime (Academic Press, 2011)
Stephen Mason, General editor, Electronic Evidence (3rd edition, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2012)

Supplementary Readings
Michael R. Arkfeld, Arkfeld on Electronic Discovery and Evidence (3rd edition, Law Partner Publishing, 2014)
Thomas K. Clancy, Cyber Crime and Digital Evidence: Materials and Cases (Second Edition, Lexis Nexis Electronic Publications, 2014)
Stephen Mason, International Electronic Evidence (British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), (2008)

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Jeanne Pia Mifsud Bonnici

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit