Information Policy Lab

Offered through UCLA’s Institute for Technology, Law & Policy (ITLP), the Information Policy Lab is a weekly seminar that gives students real-world policy projects to complete throughout the semester related to emerging issues in technology, law, and society. Over the course of the semester, students work in small groups to develop a policy output related to the thematic focus, conducting research on the topic, translating important findings into written outputs, networking with relevant experts, and communicating their final works through oral and written advocacy. 

Previously, the Lab followed a particular thematic focus: platform governance and the news media ecosystem (Fall 2022), virtual and extended reality technologies (Spring 2024), and data privacy (Spring 2025). 

In Spring 2026, the Lab will focus on projects relating to digital likeness, examining threats to our identities posed by AI-fueled impersonation, whether on- or offline. Students will complete discrete, semester-long policy projects to serve the needs of advocacy organizations and others active in the space of digital likeness. This could include working alongside artists’ unions based in Los Angeles, who are at the forefront of combatting AI impersonation harms, sports associations and other professionals whose bodies are the foundation of their work,  survivors of tech-facilitated abuse including so-called “deepfakes”, and consumer justice groups representing the growing number of AI financial fraud victims, among others. Working under direct supervision of the course instructors, student-groups will meet with client-organizations regularly throughout the semester, tailoring final outputs to fit their specific needs while building direct client relationship skills. 

Initially, class time will be used to orient students to the digital likeness landscape broadly, examining right of publicity and related laws, the emergence of AI-fueled impersonation, and the various communities harmed by this phenomenon. Later on, class time will shift to student-led teach-ins, project rounds, and other interactive sessions inviting students to further refine their oral, real-time advocacy and presentation skills. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their written advocacy by drafting opinion pieces and blog posts describing digital likeness policy issues to more general audiences. 

This is an interactive, experiential learning class. It provides students the opportunity to develop their legal research, writing, communication, and advocacy skills further. Students should come prepared to discuss assigned readings, as well as conduct independent research, work in peer groups, participate actively in class discussions and activities, and reflect on their personal learning goals.