BCSAI · 4th year · Compulsory · 3 ECTS

Ethics, Policy Making & Legislation in Computer Science

An interactive atlas of every core concept the course unpacks — from fundamental principles to the Brussels Effect, from the AI Act to neurorights, from GDPR to Asimov's Laws.

15sessions
6core principles
10human-rights steps
7EU regulations
5ethical dilemmas
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Session 1

The Three Pillars

Ethics, Regulation and Legislation are not the same. Hover each pillar.

⚖️

Ethics

What ought to be done

Ethics

Source: Moral philosophy & values.

Force: Voluntary, normative.

Sanction: Reputational, conscience.

Example: An ML team chooses to audit a model for bias even when no law requires it.

📜

Regulation

How an authority steers behaviour

Regulation

Source: Agencies, regulators, soft law.

Force: Binding rules + technical standards.

Sanction: Fines, audits, market bans.

Example: The Spanish AEPD issuing GDPR enforcement guidance.

🏛️

Legislation

The law itself

Legislation

Source: Parliaments, treaties.

Force: Highest binding power.

Sanction: Civil, administrative, criminal.

Example: The EU AI Act adopted by the European Parliament.

💡 Ethics defines the compass. Regulation builds the guardrails. Legislation lays the tracks.

Session 2

The Six Fundamental Principles

Click a slice of the wheel to explore the principle.

Fundamental
Rights
Tap a principle

The Six Pillars

Choose one of the six principles from the wheel to read its definition, why it matters, and a real-world example from class.

Session 2 · Frameworks

Who Sets the Rules?

Different organisations issue different ethical & legal frameworks. Click each.

Session 3

The Brussels Effect

How the EU's regulatory power radiates across the globe. Hover a region.

Session 3-4 · Compendium

The EU Digital Rulebook

Seven instruments that already (or soon will) govern the work of every CS professional.

Session 4 · AI Act

The Risk Pyramid

The AI Act sorts systems into four risk tiers. Click a tier.

Unacceptable risk banned
High risk strict obligations
Limited risk transparency duties
Minimal risk free use
Session 5 · Privacy & Data Protection

Privacy: Principles & Comparison

The GDPR's core principles and how Europe diverges from the United States.

GDPR Principles (Art. 5)

EU vs US

🇪🇺

European Union

  • Right-based — privacy as a fundamental right.
  • Comprehensive law (GDPR) covering every sector.
  • Opt-in consent, narrow legitimate-interest balancing.
  • Data Protection Authorities per Member State.
  • Fines up to 4% of global turnover.
  • Cross-border transfers need adequacy / SCCs / BCRs.
🇺🇸

United States

  • Market-based — privacy as consumer protection.
  • Sectoral patchwork (HIPAA, COPPA, GLBA, CCPA…).
  • Opt-out as the default in most states.
  • FTC enforcement + state attorneys general.
  • Fines vary; class actions are a major lever.
  • State-level laws (California, Virginia, Colorado…) drive convergence.
Council of Europe · 2019

Unboxing AI — 10 Steps to Protect Human Rights

Flip each card to reveal the Do's and Don'ts.

Sessions 6-7

Transversal Challenges of AI

Click each challenge to learn how the course frames it.

Sessions 9-10

Robotics & Asimov's Laws

The classic laws — and the dilemmas they cannot resolve.

0

Zeroth Law

A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.

1

First Law

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human to come to harm.

2

Second Law

A robot must obey orders given to it by humans — except where such orders conflict with the First Law.

3

Third Law

A robot must protect its own existence as long as this does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Real Regulatory Dilemmas

Sessions 11-14

The Tech Frontier

The course closes with four fast-moving fields. Click each.

Interactive

The Ethical Dilemma Simulator

Pick a scenario. Make a choice. See how each ethical framework would judge you.

Syllabus

The 15-Session Journey

Tap any session for what it covers.

    Self-test

    Knowledge Quiz

    10 questions across every core concept of the course.

    Reference

    Glossary

    Type to filter.