Contemporary Issues in Technology Governance

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.