Launch event

The launch of the IALS Centre for Law and Information Policy

Tuesday 24 February 2015 at IALS

Afternoon workshop: 14:00-17:30, RSVP to judith.townend@sas.ac.uk

Evening lecture and reception: 18:00 – 20:00, RSVP to IALS.Events@sas.ac.uk

Venue: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5DR

Afternoon workshop: Information flows and dams

A research workshop on data generation, dissemination, regulation and restriction to mark the launch of the new Centre for Law and Information Policy at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Tea and coffee will be provided. Registration essential as places are limited.

Session 1, 2-3.30pm

Chair: Judith Townend, Director, Centre for Law and Information Policy, IALS

  • Dr Daithí Mac Síthigh, Reader in Law, Newcastle Law School: Computers and the Coalition
  • Dr Richard Danbury, Research Associate, Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law, University of Cambridge: Copyright and the flow of news  
  • Marion Oswald, Senior Fellow, Head of the Centre for Information Rights, LLM Programme Leader, University of Winchester: Information warfare and privacy vigilantism
  • Dr David Goldberg, Senior Visiting Fellow, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London: Dronalism: journalism, remotely piloted aircraft, law and regulation

Session 2, 3.45-5.15pm

Chair: Julia Powles, Researcher, Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law, University of Cambridge

  • Dr David Erdos, University Lecturer in Law and the Open Society, University of Cambridge: European data protection: Is a reconceptualization possible?
  • Dr Asma Vranaki, Post-Doctoral Researcher in Cloud Computing, Accountability for Cloud Project, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London: The rise of cloud investigations by European data protection authorities
  • Professor Ian Brown, Professor of Information Security and Privacy and Associate Director, Cyber Security Centre, University of Oxford: Dimensions of cybersecurity 
  • Graham Smith, Partner, Bird & Bird: Extraterritorial interception and communications data acquisition  

Afterword/summing up, 5.15pm: Professor Lilian Edwards, Professor of E-Governance, Strathclyde Law School

Evening lecture, 6pm: ‘Does Privacy Matter?

A public lecture by Timothy Pitt-Payne QC, 11KBW, followed by discussion and drinks reception, to mark the launch of the Centre for Law and Information Policy. Chair: James Michael, Senior Associate Research Fellow, and chair of the Centre for Law and Information Policy Advisory Board, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

 “Scepticism about privacy – in particular, about information privacy – is widespread. It takes many different forms. For instance, it is often said that, in modern conditions, there can be no such thing as privacy; or that the generation that has grown up with the internet and social media is not interested in privacy. Even those who recognise that there is some value in privacy will often accept that it is readily outweighed by other considerations: e.g. safeguarding national security, protecting vulnerable groups, or making public administration more efficient. This presentation will discuss whether privacy still matters to us, and if so, whether we have the right legal tools to protect it.”

Timothy Pitt-PayneTimothy Pitt-Payne QC, barrister at 11KBW, is well known for his expertise in the field of information law, including data protection, freedom of information, access to environmental information, RIPA, human rights issues, privacy, and breach of confidence. His clients include commercial organisations, the Information Commissioner, numerous regulators, NHS bodies, local authorities, Universities, and private individuals. His freedom of information cases have considered the disclosure of Cabinet Minutes about the Iraq War, MPs’ expenses, abortion statistics, and the risk register relating to the Government’s NHS reforms. He has extensive advocacy experience in information law, at all levels from the First-tier Tribunal to the Supreme Court. He has advised a wide range of commercial organisations (e.g in the banking, insurance, healthcare and outsourcing sectors) about their use of customer and other personal information, and about the implications of sharing confidential business information with public authorities. He has contributed chapters to Computer Law (OUP, 2011), Media Law and Practice (OUP, 2009) and Judicial Review (Butterworths, 2010). He is a member of the Advisory Board of the new Centre for Law and Information Policy.

Further information / RSVP

Afternoon workshop: judith.townend@sas.ac.uk

Evening lecture and reception: IALS.Events@sas.ac.uk