Reg­u­la­tion and Gov­ernance of Di­git­al Busi­ness

Course content

How do rules shape the digital world we live in—and what happens when our lives move online faster than society can respond? This course explores the forces that govern our increasingly digital lives, from the structures that underpin online platforms to the ethical questions raised by data-driven decision-making. It offers a broad and accessible introduction to the complex environment in which digital technologies are designed, deployed, and experienced. As business, communication, and culture become ever more entangled with digital systems, understanding how these systems are regulated and held accountable becomes essential—not just for managers and policymakers, but for anyone navigating the digital world.

Students will develop the skills to think critically about the conditions that shape digital activity, including legal frameworks, institutional dynamics, and public expectations.  Topics include weaponized interdependence, platform power, the governance of data privacy, the balance between access and control in digital infrastructure, the contested terrain of intellectual property, and the shifting boundaries between public and private in cybersecurity and content moderation. Students will leave the course with a clearer understanding of the rules and rule-makers as well as the unregulated spaces that define our digital future.