Instructors should be aware of the legal risks of online teaching information security. I found digging deeper and investigating common legal risks interesting and worthwhile. All of this should not be considered legal advice since I am not a lawyer.
Infringing intellectual property rights is one of the most pertinent considerations when teaching information security. Violations of software licenses or copyrighted materials include illegally using copyrighted material. To use and distribute the materials in their courses, instructors must ensure that they have the necessary rights or licenses.
Company reputation in teaching information security is also extremely significant; we have rules around responsible disclosure that people need to follow because it minimizes personal liability when discussing Zero-Day attacks or unreported and unexploited attacks. Companies can and do sue people who irresponsibly disclose information security vulnerabilities, so you will probably never see these in an unrestricted course online.
Instructors should be mindful of privacy and data protection laws when demonstrating security techniques or sharing personal data examples. Anonymized or fictional data should always be used to avoid unintentional privacy breaches and data protection regulations.
Information security instructors must follow cybersecurity and privacy regulations and laws. It is important to understand and comply with laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), depending on the jurisdiction and audience. Teachers should be careful to avoid encouraging or facilitating illegal activities in their teaching techniques and examples.
It can be legally risky to demonstrate hacking techniques or discuss unauthorized access to computer systems. Educators should emphasize ethics, proper authorization, and comply with laws such as the CFAA or similar legislation.
Instructors should be aware of any contractual obligations or non-disclosure agreements (NDA) they have with previous employers or clients. Legal consequences can result from sharing confidential or proprietary information without authorization.
It is possible to reach a global audience when teaching information security online. Laws and regulations differ from country to country, so instructors should be aware of legal differences across jurisdictions. Compliance with applicable laws requires understanding the implications of teaching to an international audience.
Information security instructors should be knowledgeable about the laws and regulations governing their subject matter, obtain permissions and licenses for materials, maintain a focus on ethical behavior, and be careful not to demonstrate techniques that could be interpreted as unethical or illegal. A legal professional who specializes in information security or education can provide further guidance and assist in navigating potential legal issues. Instructors should also ensure their students are aware of potential legal issues and the importance of ethical behavior. They should provide guidance to students on how to stay compliant with laws and regulations. Instructors should also be prepared to answer questions about legal and ethical issues.