Criminal Law.

About the webinar

SUBSTANTIVE LAW

CPD Points: 1.5

In April 2021 Elon Musk’s company Neuralink gave an update about their progress towards brain-computer interface ('BCI') technology. A host of other companies are also working on technologies that interact with directly with the brain.

This webinar examines the way that emerging neurotechnologies such as BCIs may challenge the criminal law. In particular, it will consider how well the criminal law is placed to deal with crime committed by way of BCIs. Criminal justice systems evolved in response to incidents such as those where defendants use their limbs, hands and feet to punch, stab or kick, and more recently to control a cursor with a mouse. They were not created to address disembodied crimes that arguably take place by way of mental act, rather than a more standard bodily act.

This webinar looks at the hypothetical example of a defendant who is charged under s 91Q of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) with an offence in relation to the non-consensual uploading of intimate images of another person, which is carried out by way of BCI. It will be argued that such conduct may raise the question of what conduct constitutes the criminal act. While the law has, in the past, coped with radical technological change, and will no doubt be able to respond to this new way of acting on the world, neurobionic crime may challenge the courts at a more fundamental level than the technologies to which they have already responded — in particular, in relation to the actus reus element of crime.

CPD accreditation

Information for lawyers and barristers

Full attendance at this webinar is equal to 1.5 MCLE/CPD units.

Prerequisites

None

Delivery style

This is an online webinar. Once enrolled, you will be provided a link to the recording and can watch on demand.

Full series registration

CLICK HERE to register for the full series (7 webinars)

Further enquiries

• T +61 2 9351 0248
• E law.events@sydney.edu.au