Diploma in Ethics of Acoustic Surveillance
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in the ethics of acoustic surveillance, structured in 8 modules covering acoustic surveillance technologies, the ethics of listening, the legal framework, underwater surveillance, AI applied to audio, impact assessment and real-world cases, with an assigned technical tutor.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe acoustic surveillance technologies.
Provide an ethical grounding for the limits of listening.
Interpret the legal framework for sound capture.
Analyse underwater acoustic surveillance and its data.
Assess the risks of using AI on audio.
Carry out fundamental rights impact assessments.
Deliberate on real cases of acoustic surveillance.
Who it's for
- Technology ethics advisers.
- Acoustic engineers.
- Data protection officers.
- Security policy analysts.
- Algorithm auditors.
- Digital rights consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation)
- Directive (EU) 2016/680 (Law Enforcement Directive)
- Organic Law 7/2021 (Spanish law on data processing for criminal-law purposes)
- European Convention on Human Rights, Art. 8 (right to respect for private life)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (EU Artificial Intelligence Act)
- ISO 18405 (underwater acoustics terminology)
- Directive 2008/56/EC (Marine Strategy Framework Directive)
- Audacity
- Raven Pro
- Python with librosa
- PAMGuard
8 modules
1.1Principles of acoustics and propagation1.2Microphones and arrays1.3Sound source localisation1.4Acoustic gunshot detection in cities1.5Hydrophones and underwater surveillance1.6Seismic and acoustic sensors1.7Smart speakers and voice assistants1.8Speech and speaker recognition1.9Civil uses: biodiversity and noise1.10Lab: locating a source with an array
2.1Acoustic privacy and the home2.2Conversations as personal data2.3Indiscriminate ambient surveillance2.4Consent and public spaces2.5Chilling effect on expression2.6Voice as biometric data2.7Discrimination by accent or language2.8Listening and power relations2.9Ethics of sensor design2.10Practical: ethical analysis of an urban detection system
3.1Inviolability of communications3.2Interception of communications and judicial oversight3.3General Data Protection Regulation3.4Law Enforcement Directive3.5Organic Law 7/20213.6ECtHR case law3.7Voice biometric data3.8Video surveillance and sound capture3.9The EU AI Act and biometrics3.10Case study: judgment on audio capture in public spaces
4.1Fixed hydrophone networks4.2Monitoring maritime traffic4.3Detecting illegal activities at sea4.4Acoustic data and oceanographic science4.5Underwater noise and marine fauna4.6Sharing military data with science4.7Security of submarine cables4.8Sovereignty and maritime zones4.9Ocean data governance4.10Case study: the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty network
5.1Sound event classification5.2Automatic speech recognition5.3Speaker identification5.4False positives and their consequences5.5Bias in training data5.6Explainability of classifiers5.7Independent performance evaluation5.8Privacy by design in audio5.9Edge processing and data minimisation5.10Lab: event classifier with error assessment
6.1Data protection impact assessment6.2Fundamental rights impact assessment6.3Public participation6.4Independent oversight6.5Algorithm auditing6.6Retention and erasure of recordings6.7Public procurement of systems6.8Transparency and public registers6.9Indicators of real effectiveness6.10Workshop: DPIA of an acoustic sensor network
7.1Gunshot detection in US cities7.2Listening at borders7.3Home speakers and police access7.4Acoustic monitoring in prisons7.5Acoustic monitoring of protected wildlife7.6Acoustic sensors in conflict zones7.7Investigative journalism and leaks7.8Public debate on effectiveness7.9Lessons learned7.10Practical: deliberation on adopting a system
8.1Acoustic system analysed8.2Context and purpose8.3Applicable legal framework8.4Ethical analysis8.5Impact assessment8.6Technical minimisation measures8.7Governance proposal8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Audacity, Raven Pro, Python with librosa and PAMGuard, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures from source localisation with microphone arrays, evaluation of sound event classifiers and fundamental rights impact assessments. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Directive (EU) 2016/680, Organic Law 7/2021, European Convention on Human Rights (Art. 8), Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, ISO 18405, Directive 2008/56/EC.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Audacity, Raven Pro, Python with librosa and PAMGuard, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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