Research interests
Holly's research interests encompass Media Law (particularly privacy) and Internet Law. Her thesis sought to discover whether the current laws regarding privacy and photography strike the right balance for individual autonomy, concluding that the law would benefit from improved clarity, but also that education and guidance would be preferable when it comes to responsible photography taking and sharing. It also sought to discover the legal consequences of emerging uses of images, and the potential implications these can have for autonomy. Given that more and more people own camera-enabled devices and have a social media presence, these issues are more topical than ever and of relevance to a large part of society. Even if a person does not photograph/film or own a social media profile themselves, there is a high probability that they have some form of online presence or shadow, perhaps from a very young age.
Dr Holly HancockSouthampton Law School, Building 4 University of Southampton Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ UK