SOC 390-01 - Advanced Studies in Sociology

4 credits Fall

The Deep Fake: Legal Conundrums of Regulating Tech-Facilitated Sexual Violence. Deep fake pornography, sextortion, so-called “revenge porn,” and upskirting: researchers collectively term these and other forms of a spectrum of behaviors carried out through technologies and designed to cause harm, “tech-facilitated sexual violence” (TFSV). TFSV deeply impacts its victims, and although often framed through an individual, interpersonal lens, TFSV connects to intersecting structural oppressions such as sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and colonialism. This rapidly growing, dynamic, and quickly evolving phenomenon is notoriously difficult to address and control through the institution of law. In this seminar, students will learn about TFSV at the intersections of law and society scholarship, through an intersectional feminist lens. Students will strengthen critical thinking skills in assessing the challenges of framing legal and policy responses to TFSV that serve the needs and hopes of those most at risk of experiencing TFSV, particularly through a student inquiry driven final course project. Prerequisite: One 200-level Sociology course.

Prerequisite: At least one 200-level sociology course.
Instructor: Janson