MOCP 5007 - Navigating Ethics, Policy, Law, and Regulation for Online Creators

This course explores the multifaceted ethical, policy, legal, and regulatory environment online creators navigate at local, national and global levels. It addresses key considerations in digital content production, including copyright, privacy, freedom of speech, algorithmic bias, and the fragmented, macro-governance exerted by both nation-states and corporations owning these platforms. Students will explore how privatized forms of platform governance, such as user agreements, community guidelines, and content moderation protocols, shape the creation and distribution of digital content. The course emphasizes responsible decision-making and compliance with legal and ethical standards and examines the balance between creative freedom and social responsibility. It also explores the often uneven implications of corporate and governmental regulations on digital creativity, preparing students to manage these issues as informed, conscientious creators in a regulated, complex digital landscape.