| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Vincent Hurley
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MCrim (OUA)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
From early CCTV in banks to AI-driven surveillance, technology has long shaped policing. Today, it permeates all aspects of everyday life, from tracking to predicting and influencing behaviour. As law enforcement and offenders harness digital tools, urgent questions arise about power, privacy, and justice in an increasingly monitored world. This unit adopts a critical, practice-informed approach, engaging students with real-world case studies, legal frameworks, and current technologies to explore how surveillance is implemented, regulated, and experienced in contemporary policing. It explores the expanding role of surveillance in policing, from body-worn and in-car cameras to aerial surveillance, facial recognition, and covert monitoring. Students will examine how these tools are deployed in everyday policing, while critically analysing their unintended consequences, including overreach, bias, and privacy violations. The unit also considers the legal and ethical frameworks governing surveillance and the emerging role of AI in law enforcement. Students will critically assess the ethical, legal, and operational dimensions of surveillance and its limits. They will develop the capacity to evaluate the use and misuse of technology by public and private actors and anticipate the challenges and possibilities posed by emerging technologies. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Brief | 35% | No | 11.55pm Sunday 23rd August | Individual | No | Open AI |
| Case Study Analysis | 25% | No | 11.55pm Sunday 20th September | Individual | No | Open AI |
| Video Presentation | 40% | No | 11.55pm Sunday 18th October | Individual | No | Observed |
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday 23rd August
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI
Students will develop a concise, evidence-based response to a contemporary issue in digital policing or surveillance. (1000 words)
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday 20th September
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open AI
Students will critically examine a real-world example of surveillance or policing technology in practice and analyse its impact. (1000 words)
Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11.55pm Sunday 18th October
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
Students will communicate a well-informed position on an emerging challenge in surveillance or technology-enabled policing. (10mins)
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
REQUIRED READINGS
TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.
This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic
WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS
REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER
STAFF AVAILABILITY
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook