PIT Classes (SPP 690G)

Technology Law and Policy Governance Trends

 

SPP 690G – Technology Law and Policy Governance Trends

Course Description:

Technology Law and Policy Governance Trends

In this class, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of internet and technology policy, exploring how laws and regulations evolve to keep up with rapid digital transformation across sectors and governments. Through a Public Interest Technology (PIT) lens, we’ll tackle big, complex questions about artificial intelligence, social media, fintech, health tech, and the broader impact of “platformization” across the economy.

Our discussions will be rooted in real-world contexts—geopolitics, economic development, and the role of the public sector—helping you connect these issues to both global trends and local challenges. While each topic could easily fill an entire course, our goal is to give you a broad, integrated understanding of today’s most pressing tech policy debates, along with the tools to continue exploring them on your own.

Beyond just learning, this course is designed to help you build your own network and gain access to key resources, field experts, and ongoing discussions in the tech policy space. Whether you’re looking to apply these insights to your current work or chart a new path, this class will give you the foundation to navigate and shape the future of technology policy.

Icons Showing Real World Issues, Expert Instructor, and Community Building
SPP 690G

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to…

  • Analyze Core Digital Policy Issues: Students will gain foundational knowledge of pressing legal, economic, and social issues tied to digital platforms and emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, social media, fintech, and health. This will equip them to identify critical trends and challenges in the technology policy landscape.
  • Apply Public Interest Technology (PIT) Perspectives: Develop skills to assess policy questions using a PIT lens, emphasizing socially responsible approaches. This includes understanding how globalized technology impacts public welfare and societal ethics and learning to propose solutions that balance innovation with public interests.
  • Engage with International Policy Contexts: Students will navigate complex geopolitical and economic factors shaping technology policy. They will explore the intersections between digital regulation and international development, preparing them to consider the broader implications of tech policy decisions on a global scale.
  • Critically Assess Regulatory and Ethical Frameworks: Students will critically engage with and evaluate existing regulatory frameworks, identifying areas where they succeed or fail to address digital transformation. They will also be encouraged to reflect on the ethical responsibilities of policy-making in digital spaces.
  • Develop Lifelong Learning Competencies: Acquire resources, bibliographic knowledge, and networking tools to foster continuous professional development. The course will empower students with the skills and connections to adapt their expertise in response to future technological advancements. It will support a commitment to ongoing learning in the dynamic tech law and policy field.
Photo of Carolina Rossini
Carolina Rossini

Course Info

  • Instructor: Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Programs, Public Interest Technology Initiative at UMass (PIT@Umass).
  • Syllabus: View course syllabus.
  • Method: Online synchronous course with weekly meet-ups for discussion. Students should cover weekly materials on their own, join weekly meet-ups, and complete assignments through the Canvas platform. 
  • Note: This course is part of the upcoming Graduate Public Interest Technology Certificate. If you’d like to learn more, contact Carolina Rossini, crossini@umass.edu.

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