Privacy in the Western World from Coursera

Welcome to this course about privacy,

We are thrilled to see that you are interested and will provide you with a comprehensive study of this intriguiging subject. We hope this course will enthuse you to look further into privacy and personal data regulation. Especially in the light of recent events it becomes more important to know about your (alleged!?) rights and freedoms.

After showing you a number of interesting examples of privacy in recent events, this course continues to provide you with an historic introduction, and varying cases and court decisions. It will guide you through the cultural and legal changes in perception of privacy over time. Sometimes with a more technological perspective. Notably, in the Western world differences have accumulated over time and the differences between the USA and Europe will be explained extensively in the follow-up courses.

Through video lectures and quizzes we endeavor to build a solid foundation for you to construct a well-founded opinion on privacy. Last but not least we sincerely hope you enjoy the course!

Prof.mr.dr. Jan Smits

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

This is the introduction to the course on Privacy. This first week we start with a number of introduction videos to demonstrate the importance of privacy in examples from all over the world. It is interesting to see how privacy has been put under pressure because of increased security, of freedom of enterprise of social media, and of technological possibilities. After this weeks lesson's we dive deeper in history to see where privacy legislation is coming from, how it relates to human rights, and the recent developments to its current status. We hope you enjoy this course.

A Historic perspective

While privacy and personal space are being debated more and more over the course of the information age, personal data was stored long before the rise of the internet. In the first module we will address the collectors and overseers of our historic data.

Expert view

We visit an expert on cybercrime, cyber-investigation, privacy and data protection.

History communality

Many differences exist between European and American society nowadays. However when looking closely at the establishment of an independent people with constitutional rights we may also see some similarities...

19th century specialized international treaties

With increasing cross-border travel and services, countries realised that in order to handle them effectively, deals had to brokered. By drafting and signing treaties on specific subjects they managed, while not giving up too much of their own sovereignty.

International Cooperation and Human Rights

After agreeing on specific subjects countries learned that in order to avoid conflict more safeguards and cooperation was required. The two world wars showed that absence of good arbitration over conflicts and lacking international cohesiveness could lead to humanic atrocities. This module focuses on the response the world made to avoid these events from ever happening again: to protect human live and to protect human rights.

Last three decades

The rise of the computers also brought along a need to protect privacy in the digital environment. Conceptualizing proper protection of personal data and pursuing infringement still provides a great challenge for policy makers.

Examination

The final quiz and opportunity for you to demonstrate that you mastered the content of this course. Good luck!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Jan Smits, who are recognized for their work in privacy

Explores privacy, which is highly relevant to personal data protection and regulation

Examines how privacy perceptions have undergone cultural and legal shifts over time

Emphasizes the growing significance of understanding privacy rights in the digital age

Delves into historical foundations of privacy legislation and human rights

Uses video lectures and quizzes to enhance understanding and engagement

Reviews summary

Privacy course for western history buffs

Learners say this course provides a detailed look at privacy within the context of Western history. It's largely well-received, thanks to a logical flow of learning material and engaging assignments. Although it's largely positive, some students caution that the information is very surface level.

Content is presented in a way that keeps students engaged

"Amazing course, and the instructor makes it very interesting through explaining the content in great detail."

"I just love the course very much informative and easy to understand."

"Me parece interesante, y excelente a manera de introducción en el mundo de la privacidad."

Covers privacy through the lens of history

"From the history, law, cultural archive, this course indeed helps a lot!"

"Nice course. At first I was hesitant that I would get a lot of boring history lessons, but the videos are really short and to the point and explain where these privacy laws come from and that they make sense!"

"When teaching something about privacy, it is rare that anyone so briefly and succinctly tells about the history of human rights in Western society."

Information provided is not in great depth

"Too basic, was not what I expected. It does not go deep into privacy and its importance nowadays, interesting if you are into history."

"Very basic overview of privacy in the Western world, a lot or reading material that just is not applicable."

"I really didn't learn very much on this course. The lecture videos were no longer than 5 minutes (barring one or two) and there was no real substance to anything "taught" that I couldn't learn from a cursory glance on Wikipedia."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Privacy in the Western World with these activities:

Review materials from previous history course

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This course builds on knowledge of previous history courses, so reviewing these concepts can help you recall background information.

Browse courses on Privacy Law

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Review key concepts from your last history course
Review notes and assignments from your last history course
Read through your last history course textbook
Take a practice quiz or exam to test your knowledge

Cybercrime Investigation Simulation

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Test your skills in detecting and investigating cybercrimes by participating in a simulated environment.

Browse courses on Cybercrime

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Identify potential risks and threats to personal data
Gather and analyze evidence from compromised systems
Interview witnesses and develop a timeline of events
Prepare a detailed report outlining your findings and recommendations

Show all two activities

Career center

Learners who complete Privacy in the Western World will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Privacy Lawyer

A Privacy Lawyer counsels clients on legal issues relating to data privacy and security. This course can provide you with a solid understanding of the legal foundations of privacy and how they have evolved over time, both domestically and internationally.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Lawyer

Privacy Analyst

A Privacy Analyst develops and implements strategies to protect an organization's privacy practices. This course can help you understand the landscape of privacy regulations, their origins, and best practices for compliance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Analyst

Compliance Officer

A Compliance Officer is an expert who ensures that a company abides by the privacy rules and regulations enforced by law. This course can help build a foundation for understanding the development of privacy regulations and the international agreements and treaties that shape them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer

Law Librarian

A Law Librarian assists attorneys and other legal professionals with finding and using legal information. This course may be useful to complete if you wish to gain a deeper understanding of international and historical privacy laws and their application to current legal matters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Law Librarian

Privacy Auditor

A Privacy Auditor evaluates an organization's privacy practices and compliance with privacy laws and regulations. This course can help you gain a broad understanding of privacy principles and best practices, as well as the history and development of privacy regulations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Auditor

A Privacy Policy Manager is responsible for developing and implementing an organization's privacy policies. This course can help build a foundation for developing, implementing, and enforcing privacy policies, as well as understanding the legal and ethical implications of personal data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Policy Manager

Data Protection Officer

A Data Protection Officer is responsible for ensuring that an organization's privacy policies are compliant with privacy laws and regulations. This course may be useful in giving you an understanding of the development of data privacy laws and how they may vary depending on jurisdiction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Protection Officer

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic Psychologists apply their knowledge of human behavior to answer questions related to legal matters such as competence to stand trial and child custody. This course can help you develop a foundation for understanding the historical and cultural context of privacy, as well as the interplay between privacy and human rights.

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Paralegal

A Paralegal provides legal assistance to lawyers under the supervision of an attorney. This course can help build a foundation in legal principles, including the history and evolution of privacy law and how it is applied in practice.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst protects an organization's computer networks and systems from digital attacks. This course can provide you with a better understanding of the rising concern about data security and privacy, both in the past and the present.

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Civil Rights Lawyer

A Civil Rights Lawyer advocates for and defends the personal freedoms protected by the Constitution. This course can help you build a strong foundation of how privacy was defined in the historical and international context. Its examination of privacy's evolution over time may be of particular interest to you.

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Computer Forensics Analyst

A Computer Forensics Analyst investigates digital evidence found on computers, networks, and storage devices for criminal trials and civil lawsuits. This course can help you learn about the history of privacy as it relates to personal data, especially in the technological context.

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Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, creates, and maintains websites. This course may be useful for understanding how websites can raise privacy concerns and how to think through how to implement appropriate privacy safeguards.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software systems. This course may be useful for gaining insight into the technological challenges that impact privacy, as well as the ethical considerations and legal implications of software development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer