Big Data and Digital Media Reform in EU and India (Spring semester)

Тhis course would critically evaluate the European Union’s responses to the challenges of digital media technologies and big data and address the following questions: How does the EU address/ perceive the challenges of political bots (spam accounts that post anonymously using programmed scripts), fake news (online disinformation) and algorithms (organised by automated scripts on social media) that cumulatively manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic processes? What are the EU’s policies towards data protection and privacy in relation to the role of corporations such as Facebook and Google? Historically, the media eco system in Scandinavian countries, which are the key member countries of the EU, has been credited for pluralism and democracy. This is seen as an importance reference point for politics and media development in India. Therefore, EU’s responses to key challenges of digital technologies and big data remain essential for the purpose of digital democracy. Keeping in mind the contemporary challenges to information, data and technology, students would be introduced to the history of media reform and policy in the EU and different member states’ responses. Finally, students would make critical comparison with the regulatory and policy framework in India.

The course content was elaborated as a result of Dr. Mazumdar’s participation in the second EURASIA training round held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 3rd - 12th December, 2018.

The course was peer reviewed and validated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teodor Sedlarski, Faculty of Business, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

The course was subjected to accreditation procedures at O. P. Jindal Global University - India and piloted with 8 students as a cross-listed elective course open to BA and MA students from the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication (JSJC) - O. P. Jindal Global University – India.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Outcomes Envisaged teaching methods and techniques

• To get an understanding of media and politics in Europe and the challenges of digital media technologies;
• To get an overview of media policy and reform in EU and how such policies address global challenges in technology and big data;
• To gain an overall understanding of contemporary challenges to digital democracy on issues such as online disinformation for political purposes;
• To understand the responses of the EU to contemporary issues such as misinformation, privacy and data protection;
• To learn about the history of media pluralism and democracy in EU in a comparative perspective.

For students to develop their
• media literacy in relation to global challenges in the arena of the digital media and big data;
• critical comprehension and analytical skills;
• historical knowledge of media and digital development in the EU.

• Classroom lectures
• Select guest lectures on skype
• Film / documentary screening
• Student Presentations
• Class Debates and Discussions.