Dr Katy Vaughan

Senior Lecturer

Law

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Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5025-5747

About

Katy is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law, and the School’s Student Engagement Partner. She is a member of the Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC), the VOX-Pol Network of Excellence, and the Christchurch Call Advisory Network.

Katy has a keen interest in Legal Education and has carried out a range of student focused roles since joining Swansea University. As the School’s Student Engagement Partner, Katy works with students and colleagues both within the School and across the Faculty and University to support the development of student engagement, learning and teaching, and the wider student experience.

Her current research focuses on counterterrorism law and policy and the impact of this on the protection and promotion of human rights, emphasising the importance to an effective counterterrorism strategy of respect for human rights. Her approach to research is rooted in the belief that these global challenges are best addressed by multi-stakeholder collaborations and engages regularly with Governments, the tech industry and civil society.

Katy is currently one of the Co-Chairs of the Christchurch Call Advisory Network whose membership includes civil society, academia, and the technical community, which exists to provide advice to Governments and the tech industry within the Christchurch Call Community on addressing terrorist and violent extremist content online whilst protecting human rights and a free, open and secure internet. She has also been a member of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) Legal Frameworks Working Group 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The focus of her PhD was the conflict between national security considerations and the right to a fair trial. Her thesis examined the compatibility of the use of closed material procedures under the Justice and Security Act 2013 with ECHR standards of fairness. Prior to commencing her PhD, Katy obtained an LLB (First-class honours, Swansea University) and an LLM in Human Rights and International Law (Distinction, University of Birmingham). She was appointed as a Lecturer in the School of Law in July 2016.

Areas Of Expertise

Counterterrorism
Human Rights
Public Law
Legal Education

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Counterterrorism Law and Policy
Human Rights
Equity and Trusts

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Macdonald, S. & Vaughan, K. (2024). Moderating Borderline Content While Respecting Fundamental Values. In Fourth Annual Conference of the European Counter-Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on Terrorism and PropagandaEuropol.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66065
https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/moderating-borderline-content-while-respecting-fundamental-values
Macdonald, S. & Vaughan, K. (2024). Moderating borderline content while respecting fundamental values. Policy & Internet, 16(2), 347-361.
https://doi.org/10.1002/poi3.376, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64730
Vaughan, K. (2022). The Interoperability of Terrorism Definitions: GIFCT Legal Frameworks Working Group
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61946
https://gifct.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GIFCT-22WG-LF-TVEC-1.1.pdf
Badii, F., Rahman, A., & Vaughan, K. (2022). The Christchurch Call Leaders Summit 20 September 2022: Civil Society Perspectives
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61947
https://www.voxpol.eu/the-christchurch-call-leaders-summit-20-september-2022-civil-society-perspectives/
Vaughan, K. (2021). Submission on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill 2021 by the Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC)
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61948
https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/53SCJU_EVI_109913_JU1799/bbe5b3e01c74f06a8214dab56c39d2175682c4fa

All Research

Journal Articles

Macdonald, S. & Vaughan, K. (2024). Moderating borderline content while respecting fundamental values. Policy & Internet, 16(2), 347-361.
https://doi.org/10.1002/poi3.376, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64730

Conference Contributions

Macdonald, S. & Vaughan, K. (2024). Moderating Borderline Content While Respecting Fundamental Values. In Fourth Annual Conference of the European Counter-Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on Terrorism and PropagandaEuropol.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66065
https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/moderating-borderline-content-while-respecting-fundamental-values

Other Research Outputs

Badii, F., Rahman, A., & Vaughan, K. (2022). The Christchurch Call Leaders Summit 20 September 2022: Civil Society Perspectives
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61947
https://www.voxpol.eu/the-christchurch-call-leaders-summit-20-september-2022-civil-society-perspectives/
Vaughan, K. (2022). The Interoperability of Definitions of Terrorism and Violent Extremism
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61949
https://www.voxpol.eu/the-interoperability-of-definitions-of-terrorism-and-violent-extremism/
Vaughan, K. (2022). The Interoperability of Terrorism Definitions: GIFCT Legal Frameworks Working Group
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61946
https://gifct.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GIFCT-22WG-LF-TVEC-1.1.pdf
Vaughan, K. (2021). Submission on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill 2021 by the Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC)
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61948
https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/53SCJU_EVI_109913_JU1799/bbe5b3e01c74f06a8214dab56c39d2175682c4fa

Supervision

The Impact of Deepfakes on Trust in User-Generated Evidence in Accountability Processes for Human Rights Violations in Europe (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Yvonne Mcdermott Rees
Cybersecurity Standards: Shifting regulatory theory from deterrence to regulatory mandated target hardening in critical industry. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Patrick Bishop
Bulk Surveillance Under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016: An Analysis of European Convention of Human Rights Compliance (awarded 2023)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Stuart Macdonald

Taught Modules

LA-369A Coursework 1 & 2 for Graduate Diploma in Law

The module is personal study, by which students submit two pieces of coursework from either LA-362, LA-365 or LA-366 or La-361, LA-367 or LA-368.
LAA201 Equity & Trusts 1

Equity is a word with many meanings. For lawyers, it refers to the branch of law that historically developed and operated alongside the common law before the two systems merged in the Victorian era by virtue of the Judicature Act of 1873. Equity is old and yet younger than the common law; its emergence was necessary to `remedy the rigours¿ of the legal system that was established by the Norman conquerors and famously refined by Henry II. On this course we are going to investigate the jurisdiction of Equity through its greatest progeny, the Trust. Succinctly put, a trust is a means of managing property, whereby title to the property is split. At its simplest, one person receives legal title (this person is known as ¿the trustee¿), and another person receives equitable title (this person is known as ¿the beneficiary¿). We will explore this fascinating legal concept in this module by looking at the creation and formalities that apply to express private trusts, together with evaluating the operation of charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts.
LAA204 Equity & Trusts1

Equity is a word with many meanings. For lawyers, it refers to the branch of law that historically developed and operated alongside the common law before the two systems merged in the Victorian era by virtue of the Judicature Act of 1873. Equity is old and yet younger than the common law; its emergence was necessary to `remedy the rigours¿ of the legal system that was established by the Norman conquerors and famously refined by Henry II. On this course we are going to investigate the jurisdiction of Equity through its greatest progeny, the Trust. Succinctly put, a trust is a means of managing property, whereby title to the property is split. At its simplest, one person receives legal title (this person is known as ¿the trustee¿), and another person receives equitable title (this person is known as ¿the beneficiary¿). We will explore this fascinating legal concept in this module by looking at the creation and formalities that apply to express private trusts, together with evaluating the operation of charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts.
LAA206 Equity & Trusts 2

This module examines the key principles and doctrines of equity and focuses in particular on the trust which is equity¿s most important creation. Every well-developed legal system seeks to enable property or funds to be held by one party either for the benefit of another or to be applied towards the attainment or promotion of various purposes and to enforce certain obligations against the party holding such property. The trust is the vehicle through which this is done under English law. The primary aim of this module is to provide a sound basis for understanding the nature and types of trusts, the diverse contexts in which trusts arise, the principles governing their creation and enforcement, the beneficial interests operating behind the trust, the obligations imposed on trustees and the remedies available for breaches of trust. In Equity and Trusts 2, we will focus in particular on the application of the trust concept to modern life including charitable trusts, resulting trusts, and constructive trusts; and, the obligations on trustees and remedies available for breaches of trust including the liability of third parties.
LAA209 Equity & Trusts 2

Equity is a word with many meanings. For lawyers, it refers to the branch of law that historically developed and operated alongside the common law before the two systems merged in the Victorian era by virtue of the Judicature Act of 1873. Equity is old and yet younger than the common law; its emergence was necessary to `remedy the rigours¿ of the legal system that was established by the Norman conquerors and famously refined by Henry II. On this course we are going to investigate the jurisdiction of Equity through its greatest progeny, the Trust. Succinctly put, a trust is a means of managing property, whereby title to the property is split. At its simplest, one person receives legal title (this person is known as ¿the trustee¿), and another person receives equitable title (this person is known as ¿the beneficiary¿). In Equity & Trusts 2 we continue to learn about the trust concept by analysing the jurisprudence surrounding resulting and constructive trusts, also known as implied trusts. In the final two ¿units¿ of this course we explore the nature of ¿trusteeship¿ by assessing the non-fiduciary and fiduciary duties that trustees owe to their beneficiary or principal, respectively.
LAA238 Equity and Trusts

This 30-credit module provides an exciting opportunity for second year law students to study the law surrounding Equity and Trusts. The module introduces and examines the key principles and doctrines surrounding Equity and Trusts. Providing a non-compartmentalised and, where possible, decolonised interpretation of Equity and Trusts is what this module seeks to achieve. The programme consists of the following eight units, taught over two semesters: ¿ Unit 1: The Three Certainties ¿ Unit 2: Formalities & Constitution of Trusts ¿ Unit 3: Private Purpose Trusts ¿ Unit 4: Charitable Purpose Trusts ¿ Unit 5: Resulting Trusts ¿ Unit 6: Constructive Trusts ¿ Unit 7: Administration & Breach of Trust ¿ Unit 8: Fiduciary Duties & Third-Party Liability
LAA320 Counter-terrorism Law

The UK¿s CONTEST strategy for countering terrorism has four strands. This module focuses on the pursue strand, the aim of which is to disrupt terrorist activity. The module begins by evaluating the UK¿s statutory definition of terrorism, examining debates on the definition¿s scope and clarity. It then looks at the prosecution of terrorist suspects, focussing particularly on ¿precursor¿ criminal offences and the UK¿s self-imposed ban on the use of intercept as evidence in criminal trials. Where prosecution is not possible, the UK will seek to deport foreign suspected terrorists. One of the major obstacles to deportation ¿ the Article 3 ECHR prohibition on torture or ill-treatment ¿ is examined, along with the policy of deportation with assurances. Finally, where neither prosecution nor deportation is possible, suspected terrorists may as a last resort be issued with Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures. The use of these is evaluated, with particular focus on the possibility of closed sessions being held during the application process.
LAAM10 Human Rights and Terrorism Online

Terrorist use of the Internet is a rapidly growing phenomenon. This module examines a variety of terrorists¿ online activities, including propaganda, recruitment, radicalization, communication and training. It considers different forms of response to these activities, including the contrast between ¿soft¿ and ¿hard¿ interventions and the potential impact of these different response on human rights.
LANM08 Law of Property

This module examines the fundamental principles of English and Welsh property law, including Equity and Trusts Law, and Land Law. In relation to Equity and Trusts Law, the module examines key principles and doctrines of equity and focuses, in particular, on the trust which is equity's most important creation. Every well-developed legal system seeks to enable property or funds to be held by one party, either for the benefit of another, or be applied towards the attainment or promotion of various purposes and to enforce certain obligations against the party holding such property. The trust is the vehicle through which this is done under English law. In relation to Land Law, the module provides an introduction to the nature of land ownership in English law and the conceptual framework of the creation and transfer of estates and interests in land. Particular attention is paid to estates and interests in land, registration of title, and co-ownership.
LAQ304 Equity and Trusts 1

Equity is a word with many meanings. For lawyers, it refers to the branch of law that historically developed and operated alongside the common law before the two systems merged in the Victorian era by virtue of the Judicature Act of 1873. Equity is old and yet younger than the common law; its emergence was necessary to `remedy the rigours¿ of the legal system that was established by the Norman conquerors and famously refined by Henry II. On this course we are going to investigate the jurisdiction of Equity through its greatest progeny, the Trust. Succinctly put, a trust is a means of managing property, whereby title to the property is split. At its simplest, one person receives legal title (this person is known as ¿the trustee¿), and another person receives equitable title (this person is known as ¿the beneficiary¿). We will explore this fascinating legal concept in this module by looking at the creation and formalities that apply to express private trusts, together with evaluating the operation of charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts.
LAQ309 Equity and Trusts 2

Equity is a word with many meanings. For lawyers, it refers to the branch of law that historically developed and operated alongside the common law before the two systems merged in the Victorian era by virtue of the Judicature Act of 1873. Equity is old and yet younger than the common law; its emergence was necessary to `remedy the rigours¿ of the legal system that was established by the Norman conquerors and famously refined by Henry II. On this course we are going to investigate the jurisdiction of Equity through its greatest progeny, the Trust. Succinctly put, a trust is a means of managing property, whereby title to the property is split. At its simplest, one person receives legal title (this person is known as ¿the trustee¿), and another person receives equitable title (this person is known as ¿the beneficiary¿). In Equity & Trusts 2 we continue to learn about the trust concept by analysing the jurisprudence surrounding resulting and constructive trusts, also known as implied trusts. In the final two ¿units¿ of this course we explore the nature of ¿trusteeship¿ by assessing the non-fiduciary and fiduciary duties that trustees owe to their beneficiary or principal, respectively.
LAQ338 Equity & Trusts

This 20-credit module provides an exciting opportunity for second year law students to study the law surrounding Equity and Trusts. The module introduces and examines the key principles and doctrines surrounding Equity and Trusts. Providing a non-compartmentalised and, where possible, decolonised interpretation of Equity and Trusts is what this module seeks to achieve. The programme consists of the following eight units, taught over two semesters: Unit 1: The Three Certainties Unit 2: Formalities & Constitution of Trusts Unit 3: Charitable Purpose Trusts Unit 4: Resulting Trusts Unit 5: Constructive Trusts Unit 6: Administration & Breach of Trust

Other Roles

School of Law Student Engagement Partner, Swansea University

2021 - Present
LLB Admissions Tutor, Swansea University

2016 - 2021

Key Grants and Projects

ESRC Impact Accelerator Award: Co-creating Impact via Integrating Civil Society: Building Inclusive Multistakeholder Networks (CIvICS) 2023

, with Ashley Mattheis, £13,997.30
Taith Higher Education Research Mobility Award 2023

, £2,335
Identifying barriers to engagement and developing responses to enhance academic outcomes for students at high risk of disengagement (Swansea Academy of Inclusivity Small Project Grant) 2023

, with Trilby James, £2,000

Dr Katy Vaughan

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Research Highlights

All Research

The Impact of Deepfakes on Trust in User-Generated Evidence in Accountability Processes for Human Rights Violations in Europe (current)

Cybersecurity Standards: Shifting regulatory theory from deterrence to regulatory mandated target hardening in critical industry. (current)

Bulk Surveillance Under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016: An Analysis of European Convention of Human Rights Compliance (awarded 2023)

LA-369A Coursework 1 & 2 for Graduate Diploma in Law

LAA201 Equity & Trusts 1

LAA204 Equity & Trusts1

LAA206 Equity & Trusts 2

LAA209 Equity & Trusts 2

LAA238 Equity and Trusts

LAA320 Counter-terrorism Law

LAAM10 Human Rights and Terrorism Online

LANM08 Law of Property

LAQ304 Equity and Trusts 1

LAQ309 Equity and Trusts 2

LAQ338 Equity & Trusts

School of Law Student Engagement Partner, Swansea University

LLB Admissions Tutor, Swansea University

ESRC Impact Accelerator Award: Co-creating Impact via Integrating Civil Society: Building Inclusive Multistakeholder Networks (CIvICS) 2023

Taith Higher Education Research Mobility Award 2023

Identifying barriers to engagement and developing responses to enhance academic outcomes for students at high risk of disengagement (Swansea Academy of Inclusivity Small Project Grant) 2023