The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has sparked significant regulatory responses around the world. Among these, the European Union has taken a pioneering step with the adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the world’s first comprehensive legal framework on AI. This regulation marks a notable shift from a self-regulatory model to a binding and horizontal framework that applies across sectors, including major online platforms.

This course explores the evolving legal landscape of AI and platform regulation, with a particular focus on the AI Act and its intersection with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Students will examine the structure, scope, and obligations established by these regulations, the underlying risk-based approach, and new requirements such as fundamental rights impact assessments.

The Course objectives are:

• To understand the legal and practical challenges of regulating AI and digital platforms.
   
• To gain in-depth knowledge of the AI Act and the DSA, including their architecture, scope, and key provisions.
   
• To critically evaluate the limitations and risks of current regulatory approaches.
   
• To explore strategies for compliance, risk management, and the protection of fundamental rights in AI-driven environments.