This course explores two prominent aspects of the big data age and the social media era—rising privacy concerns of citizens and increasing surveillance threats posed to them. Basic concepts, key historical developments and emerging issues of privacy, data protection, and surveillance, and their impact on communication and media operations will be examined. Case studies from Europe, the United States, and Greater China are enlisted to highlight the interplay of advances in communication technologies, rights and freedoms of citizens, economic interests of media enterprises, and laws and policies of governments.