Emerging Technologies and Data Ethics in Law G (12305.1)
Please note these are the 2028 details for this unit
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | Online real-time |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Business, Government & Law |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Canberra Law School | Graduate Level | Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905) Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
AI is reshaping society. But nobody has figured out all the legal or ethical rules yet. This unit prepares you to lead your workplace's response.
Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming how we operate, but the legal and ethical frameworks are still emerging. This unit will explore the principles for governing technologies that existing laws don't adequately address, while developing the ethical judgment to navigate situations where legal compliance and ethical responsibility diverge. Whether you're managing AI systems, implementing new data technologies, or advising on compliance, you need to understand both the legal constraints and the ethical frameworks that guide responsible innovation.
You'll examine artificial intelligence governance in government contexts, exploring how administrative law principles, privacy obligations, and emerging policy frameworks apply to AI-assisted decision-making. How do you ensure procedural fairness when an algorithm makes decisions about citizens? What does "evidence-based decision-making" mean when AI identifies patterns humans can't understand? These legal questions are inseparable from ethical ones: Is the system fair? Who's accountable if it fails? You'll work through realistic scenarios, analyse international approaches like the EU's AI Act, and develop the professional judgment to advise your workplace on compliance strategies that are both legally sound and ethically defensible.
The unit explores other emerging technologies reshaping data governance: blockchain systems, Internet of Things networks, and innovations creating legal questions nobody anticipated. You'll learn how regulators respond to genuinely novel challenges, examine consultation processes and policy development methodologies, and develop strategies for balancing innovation promotion with legal compliance and ethical responsibility. By the end of this unit, you'll be equipped to navigate the frontiers of data governance - to anticipate legal risks, contribute to policy development, and help your workplace lead rather than follow as technology, law, and ethics evolve together.
1. Analyse and interpret emerging legal and policy frameworks for AI and other disruptive technologies to identify compliance obligations and governance gaps in government contexts;
2. Evaluate ethical and accountability challenges in algorithmic decision-making and other emerging technologies, applying principles of fairness, transparency, and responsibility to real-world scenarios;
3. Design integrated governance strategies that reconcile legal requirements, ethical frameworks, and operational realities for AI and data-intensive technologies in public sector environments;
4. Communicate complex governance advice and policy recommendations with professional effectiveness, adapting structure and tone for legal, technical, and executive audiences; and
5. Reflect critically on professional and ethical practice by evaluating your decision-making processes, identifying areas for growth, and articulating strategies for ongoing development as a responsible technology governance professional.
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming how we operate, but the legal and ethical frameworks are still emerging. This unit will explore the principles for governing technologies that existing laws don't adequately address, while developing the ethical judgment to navigate situations where legal compliance and ethical responsibility diverge. Whether you're managing AI systems, implementing new data technologies, or advising on compliance, you need to understand both the legal constraints and the ethical frameworks that guide responsible innovation.
You'll examine artificial intelligence governance in government contexts, exploring how administrative law principles, privacy obligations, and emerging policy frameworks apply to AI-assisted decision-making. How do you ensure procedural fairness when an algorithm makes decisions about citizens? What does "evidence-based decision-making" mean when AI identifies patterns humans can't understand? These legal questions are inseparable from ethical ones: Is the system fair? Who's accountable if it fails? You'll work through realistic scenarios, analyse international approaches like the EU's AI Act, and develop the professional judgment to advise your workplace on compliance strategies that are both legally sound and ethically defensible.
The unit explores other emerging technologies reshaping data governance: blockchain systems, Internet of Things networks, and innovations creating legal questions nobody anticipated. You'll learn how regulators respond to genuinely novel challenges, examine consultation processes and policy development methodologies, and develop strategies for balancing innovation promotion with legal compliance and ethical responsibility. By the end of this unit, you'll be equipped to navigate the frontiers of data governance - to anticipate legal risks, contribute to policy development, and help your workplace lead rather than follow as technology, law, and ethics evolve together.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Analyse and interpret emerging legal and policy frameworks for AI and other disruptive technologies to identify compliance obligations and governance gaps in government contexts;
2. Evaluate ethical and accountability challenges in algorithmic decision-making and other emerging technologies, applying principles of fairness, transparency, and responsibility to real-world scenarios;
3. Design integrated governance strategies that reconcile legal requirements, ethical frameworks, and operational realities for AI and data-intensive technologies in public sector environments;
4. Communicate complex governance advice and policy recommendations with professional effectiveness, adapting structure and tone for legal, technical, and executive audiences; and
5. Reflect critically on professional and ethical practice by evaluating your decision-making processes, identifying areas for growth, and articulating strategies for ongoing development as a responsible technology governance professional.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027, 2028 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Study Block 6 | 25 October 2027 | Online real-time | Ms Tess Rooney |
| 2028 | Bruce, Canberra | Study Block 6 | 23 October 2028 | Online real-time | Ms Tess Rooney |
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit
timetable.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
