Presentation Title: Intimate Devices and the Australian Law
Theme: International Ethics and Environment and Governance 
Presenter: Ms Joesphine Dwan

Technological change often creates new legal problems and while not all new technology raises legal concerns, those that do are often at the forefront of the ongoing debate about the role of law in legislating modern and emerging technologies. My research is concerned with the impact of smartphones and wearable devices technologies (hereafter referred to as ‘intimate devices’) on the development of Australian law. My research will explore shifts in consumer data control by analysing the extent to which Australian users control the data generated by and stored on their personal intimate devices. By understanding how the Australian law has or not addressed the growing popularity of intimate devices this research will highlight which legal and / or political events have been effective in protecting or, conversely, limiting the rights of consumers in relation to their personal data. Over the course of this research I will consider the following issues:

1. In relation to the case studies identified, how has increased use of intimate devices influenced the development of Australian law to date?
2. How has citizen-to-citizen misuse of intimate devices influenced the relationship between intimate devices and the Australian law?
3. How does this relationship compare to other common law countries?
4. Are there any international obligations by which Australia is bound that may impact this relationship?
5. What challenges is Australian Law likely to face in the future as a result of the proliferation of intimate devices in everyday life? (This is likely to result in recommendations for future research beyond the scope of this project.)

Josephine is a PhD candidate with UNSW Canberra at HASS investigating the relationship between the Australian law and personal devices. Originally from Deakin University in Melbourne, Josephine obtained her undergraduate degrees in business and cybersecurity and went on to complete her Juris Doctor finishing in 2020. Josephine maintains a fascination with modern cybersecurity issues and aims to bring her previous experience in STEM to her current research by providing high quality research to assist in the development of technology law in Australia.