This course provides students with the opportunity to develop understanding of contemporary challenges in the regulation of technology by engaging in directed, practice-based learning. Over the course of the semester, students will work towards completing a practical challenge task set by the course instructors. Examples of challenge tasks might include: training an AI model on a set of data and analysing the output from the perspective of the law; designing and generating a set of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and analysing the use-cases for the technology; undertaking text-and-data mining of an internet platform and analysing the legal, ethical and economic impacts that arise from the activity.

This course makes use of practice-based learning methodologies. Through iterative reflection and application of new knowledge, students will expand their understanding of technical as well as socio-legal challenges related to the core activity. No prior technical experience is assumed or required. The course instructors will provide the necessary technical support to enable students to undertake the assigned task.

10 x 2 hour seminars in Semester 1.

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This course is assessed by two pieces of coursework. The first is a group oral presentation (25%) which will require students to present a mid-point update on their progress in the challenge, identify and discuss relevant policy issues arising from their experience. The second assessment is a written essay of 4000 words (75%) which requires students to critically reflect on the process and outcomes of the practical activity at the end of the semester, with reference to scholarship in law and regulation. Students are not assessed on the outcome of the practical challenge, but on their ability to critically reflect on the process, linking the knowledge gained from the practical activity to theory and debates about technology regulation.

The principal aim of the course is to provide students with an opportunity to explore contemporary questions in the regulation of technology be engaging directly in practice. The course aims to introduce students to practice-based research methodologies and encourage critical reflection about the relationship between regulation, society and technology.

Further aims are to:

■ Develop the analytical and critical skills of students by engaging with practical challenges posed by emerging technologies; 

■ Increase understanding of the actors and dynamics governing a specific area of emerging technology;

■ Foster critical understanding and evaluation of areas of controversy within technology regulation; 

■ Develop the communication and team work skills of students;

■ Encourage independent learning and problem solving.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Analyse legal and regulatory issues in an emerging technology field

■ Apply practice-based methodologies to research and understand socio-technical aspects of technology

■ Reflect on the regulatory process and the challenge of regulating emerging technological practices

■ Propose reforms to existing regulatory frameworks for technology that reflect diverse stakeholder perspectives.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Please note below the balance of summative assessment is 75% Report and 25% Oral Assessment.