how to write a problem statement ?

How to write a problem statement

Law & Technology 2013

Step 1: What is the first thing you do?

a) Collect literature and read thisb) Find an issue that is not yet fully researched • Which problems can you encounter?

– there is no literature… • then redefine your search • or redefine your topic • or be an Einstein

– there is so much literature to read… • then redefine your search • or redefine your topic • or select and stop reading in time

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Step 2: Define your research question

• I want to write about profiling. – this is not a question• What are the problems with profiling? – this is not a legal question; too broad• What are the legal problems with profiling? – this is legal, but way too broad• What are the problems in Dutch law with profiling? – better, but still too broad for a small paper• What are the privacy problems in Dutch law with profiling? – now we’re getting somewhere, but the question could be

formulated more sharply• Is profiling compatible with Dutch data protection law? or• Is Dutch law sufficiently equipped to deal with privacy issues raised by

profiling? or• Do internet users have a right, in Dutch law, not to be profiled?

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Step 3: Draft a Table of Contents

• Is profiling compatible with Dutch data protection law?

1. Introduction (background & PS)2. Contemporary profiling

techniques3. Dutch data protection law4. Shortcomings of data

protection law (analysis)– Cookies– Device fingerprinting

5. Conclusion

NB Other ToC’s are very well possible

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• Do internet users have a right, in Dutch law, not to be profiled?

•Introduction(background & PS)

•Profiling defined•Legal analysis

• Rights of data subjects• Interests of data

controllers/subjects•Striking a balance•Conclusion

NB Other ToC’s are very well possible.

Step 4: Writing

• Use literature– don’t think you know everything yourself

• Use references and quotations– don’t think the literature is sacred– be critical and selective– don’t use too many quotations

• Always bear in mind the research question– Is what I am writing now relevant for answering the

question?• Writing is an iterative process!

– Collect more literature if needed– Redefine the research question and ToC if needed

• Ask other people to read and comment on your draft paper

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TILT - Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society

Google privacy policy

Introduction:

On the first of March 2012 changes to google's privacy policy became effective. These changes allow information gathered by google to be shared by other components of google including youtube and gmail. The European Union's justice commissioner has stated that these changes breach the EU's transparency rules. Google has contested this claim stating that it believed the changes complied with EU law. This paper seeks to examine what the legal consequences are if changes in google's privacy policy are held to be illegal under EU law.

Problem Statement:⇥

"what are the legal consequences if changes in google's privacy policy are held to be illegal under European Union law?"


Google privacy policy

Introduction:

On the first of March 2012 changes to google's privacy policy became effective. These changes allow information gathered by google to be shared by other components of google including youtube and gmail. The European Union's justice commissioner has stated that these changes breach the EU's transparency rules. Google has contested this claim stating that it believed the changes complied with EU law. This paper seeks to examine what the legal consequences are if changes in google's privacy policy are held to be illegal under EU law.

Problem Statement:⇥

"what are the legal consequences if changes in google's privacy policy are held to be illegal under European Union law?"


identityThe emergence of a new global culture has generated new innovations and led to the demise of ancient traditions, challenging the conventional underpinnings of human society and identity. In order to navigate the global cyber world, humanity must undertake a complex process of understanding notions of identity. Additionally, the emerging global way of thinking necessitates a reassessment of personal and collective identity. Thus, individuals and corporations must adopt a dynamic approach to their contemporary socio-cultural milieu, so as not to get left behind in an ever changing world. Through a comparative analysis of identity and autonomy within the context of technology, it will be possible to glean whether user profiles on the internet are a secure means of obtaining ‘consent.’ Moreover, the rapid expansion of internet user profiles in the 21st Century milieu begs the queries; how well do we truly know who sits on the other side of the screen? Is consent offered by an internet persona accurate consent, if any? And, how does one regulate human beings within the realm of technology when such individuals are operating under facades, personas and profiles?


Google

"Do the recent policy changes which allow Google to share privacy data with other platforms such as YouTube, breach EU Law?"


Copyright Law in Japan. With the technological advances, we are able to download anything from the internet which is said to affect the industries. Thus, these downloads and watching online shows tend to be classified as "illegal." However, is that really the case or is it illegal purely just for the fact that it affects the business of the industries? The line between technology and law there is a thin line, making it a grey area. In the paper, I would like to look at the privacy law and the acts in Japan, looking into the lines drawn between.

Content:

-The role of copyright law in general-The copyright law in japan-Introducing some case-studies-Analysis, connections/links.-Conclusion


Cybercrime

Due to media coverage and technological advances there is an ever-increasing fear that computer and internet users have or will fall victim to at least one type of cybercrime.

Due to the signing and ratification of the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Convention we can see a minimum level of harmonisation with regards to cybercrime governance. However the prosecution rate of cybercrimes as a whole is relatively low.

My question therefore is

“How effective/appropriate are the methods of cybercrime governance? Are there alternative methods, which could be more suitable?


technoregulationStarting with an existing case – this is the starting point of the paper-

“Spitsvrij” is a project of the Dutch government to reduce the traffic jams. It implies that in a certain period of time, by using cameras, number plates are being registered. With this information, the government writes a letter to the people who are using those roads and offers these people a reward. If they change there behaviour by avoiding that particular road they get an amount. This contains not only work traffic, but everybody that is using that road often and lives in the given area.

This seems a choice of the citizen, but in reality the government analyses and uses information without asking the citizen in advance.

Is the Dutch (local)government competent to use vehicle registration, obtained by cameras, for behavioural change of citizen in the Dutch traffic jams?


Google

Chapter 2 Legal explanation vehicle registration / camera surveillance

What is vehicle registration ( this includes the number plate registration) , the purpose of vehicle registration, which authority is competent to use the vehicle registration.

Vehicle registration in combination with camera surveillance and its applications.

Chapter 3 Problems that may arise

The balance of power between government and citizens

The information asymmetry which arises when the government uses technology like cameras and its resulting information.

Are there limits to the use of the information - privacy citizenThe possibility for the citizen to delete data which was stored without there permission.

Chapter 4 Conclusion

how to write a problem statement ?

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