• E4J University Module Series: Counter-Terrorism

• Module 12: Privacy, Investigative Techniques and Intelligence Gathering

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

• • International legal framework
  • Regional and national approaches
  • Key contemporary issues
  • Special investigation techniques
  • Surveillance and interception of communications
  • Privacy and intelligence gathering in situations of armed conflict
  • Accountability and oversight of intelligence gathering methods

• Exercises and case studies

• Possible class structure

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

• References

 

Published in July 2018.

 

 

  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Student assessment

 

This section provides suggestions for post-class assignments for the purpose of assessing students' understanding of the Module. Suggestions for pre-class or in-class assignments are provided in the Exercises section.

Assessment questions

• Compare and contrast the differences in the legal framework governing the right to privacy in peacetime and situations of armed conflict, and the implications for these for individual rights and freedoms.
• What criteria need to be satisfied for an interference with the right to privacy to be compatible with ICCPR? How does this vary across different regional human rights mechanisms, and with what implications?
• What are the similarities and differences between the ways in which international and regional human rights bodies have interpreted criteria concerning lawful interferences with the right to privacy?
• Identify and critically assess legislative restrictions on the enjoyment of the right to privacy provided for in your country, including to what extent it is consistent and inconsistent with international human rights standards and obligations.
• Critically evaluate the impact on the right to privacy that different types of technologies employed by government authorities to intercept communications and to conduct surveillance may have. Consider at least two different forms of technology available.
• Discuss the human rights implications (privacy and other rights) associated with the gathering and use of metadata by the intelligence and law enforcement communities. How does this differ, if at all, from the gathering of ordinary data? Would governments be able to carry out counter-terrorism prevention activities as effectively without relying on metadata?

 

Next page

Back to top