Technological change is a central feature of societies. The pervasiveness of digital technologies in everyday life poses ongoing challenges for regulation and governance. How should the generation and use of private data be managed? What approaches can policymakers and regulators use to assess the risks and uncertainties of new technologies? What can be done to ensure technology reduces inequities and improves livelihoods?
This course provides interdisciplinary concepts for understanding how technosocial systems are changing and for analysing how broader national, regional and international developments are shaped by law, policy, political economy, regulation and security. Class sessions focus on empirical examples so that students can apply different conceptual tools and propose creative solutions to real-world problems. Case studies cover current and anticipated concerns, including automation, consumer protection, changing professional standards, data governance and digital transformation, as they relate to important issues of climate change, criminal justice, democratic stability, food systems, internet governance, public health and security. Specific issues addressed include developments in algorithmic regulation, digital identity, fintech, predictive analytics and RegTech. Designed to accommodate students from different backgrounds and career stages, the course is suitable for recent graduates with an interest in technology and society as well as professionals working in government, the private sector and nongovernment organisations.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Recall and apply theories of regulation and governance as they related to contemporary issues in technology governance.
- Explain key developments and challenges related to technology governance across a range of domains.
- Describe the advantages and limits of different regulatory and governance instruments and concepts as they relate to technological change and innovation.
- Interpret and communicate new insights related to scholarly and regulatory debates about technological governance.
- Identify future directions for technology governance in domestic, global and transnational contexts.
Indicative Assessment
- In class participation (10) [LO 1,2]
- Actor network map of a domain of technology governance (10) [LO 2,3]
- Development and delivery of an in-class activity about a debate in technology governance, including a 1000-word précis of relevant reading(s) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Technology governance futures essay proposal and outline (750 words) (nested 1) (15) [LO 4,5]
- Technology governance futures essay (2500 words) (nested 2) (35) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
This course requires 30 contact hours and 130 hours workload in total
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
Prescribed texts are not required.
Preliminary Reading
Brownsword R, Scotford E & Yeung K (eds) (2017) The Oxford Handbook of Law, Regulation and Technology. Oxford University Press.
Haggart B, Tusikov N & Scholte, JA (eds) (2021). Power and Authority in Internet Governance: Return of the State? Routledge.
Kukutai T & Taylor J (eds) (2016) Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Toward an Agenda. ANU Press.
Bernstein S & Cashore B (2007) Can non-state global governance be legitimate? An analytical framework. Regulation & Governance 1(4): 347-371.
Selections from:
Costanza-Chock S (2020) Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need. MIT Press.
Lindtner SM (2020) Prototype Nation: China and the Contested Promise of Innovation. Princeton University Press.
Pasquale F (2020) New Laws of Robotics: Defending Human Expertise in the Age of AI. Harvard University Press.
Irani L (2019) Chasing Innovation: Making Entrepreneurial Citizens in Modern India. Princeton University Press.
Schatzberg E (2018) Technology: Critical History of a Concept. University of Chicago Press.
Sunder Rajan K (2017) Pharmocracy: Value, Politics and Knowledge in Global Biomedicine. Duke University Press.
Peters B (2016) How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet. MIT Press.
Medina E (2011) Cybernetic Revolutionaries: Technology and Politics in Allende’s Chile. MIT Press.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3375 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | In Person | N/A |
| 3612 | 17 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 23 May 2025 | Online | N/A |
