books and long-form works
A Socio-Legal Study of Hacking: Breaking and Remaking Law and Technology
The relationship between hacking and the law has always been complex and conflict-ridden. This book examines the relations and interactions between hacking and the law with a view to understanding how hackers influence and are influenced by technology laws and policies. In our increasingly digital and connected world where hackers play a significant role in determining the structures, configurations and operations of the networked information society, this book delivers an interdisciplinary study of the practices, norms and values of hackers and how they conflict and correspond with the aims and aspirations of hacking-related laws. Describing and analyzing the legal and normative impact of hacking, as well as proposing new approaches to its regulation and governance, this book makes an essential contribution to understanding the socio-technical changes, and consequent legal challenges, faced by our contemporary connected society.
A matter of security, privacy and trust: A study of the principles and values of encryption in New Zealand
The principal objective of this study is to identify the principles and values of encryption in New Zealand with a view to informing future developments of encryption-related laws and policies. The overarching question is: What are the fundamental principles and values that apply to encryption? In order to answer this question, the study adopts an interdisciplinary approach that examines the technical, legal and social dimensions of encryption. With regard to the technical dimensions, this requires exploring the technical elements and aspects of encryption and how they can impact law and society. In relation to law, existing and proposed encryption law and policies in New Zealand and other jurisdictions are examined in terms of how they affect and are affected by encryption. On the social dimension, the perceptions, opinions and beliefs of three groups of stakeholders most concerned about encryption (i.e., the general public, businesses and government) are recognised and considered.
Breaking and remaking law and technology: A socio-techno-legal study of hacking
In an increasingly digital and connected world, technological groups like hackers play a significant role in the workings and governance of society. This book examines the relations and interactions between hacking and the law by focusing on two types of hackers: makers and hacktivists. The central research question of the book is: In relation to their technologies, norms and values, how do makers and hacktivists interact with and respond to technology laws and policies? Since the research lies at the intersection of law, technology and society, the book adopts an interdisciplinary socio-techno-legal approach that combines the fields of technology law, science and technology studies, and socio-legal studies. The book aims to contribute to a better understanding of the legal and normative impact of hackers and to improve approaches to the regulation and governance of technology.
book chapters
Internet Governance and Cyber Diplomacy
with Andelka M Phillips, in G Christou and others (eds), The Palgrave Handbook on Cyber Diplomacy (Palgrave Macmillan 2025)
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Due to its global, plural and complex nature, the internet presents significant issues to diplomacy. This chapter posits that cyber diplomats must utilise the unique characteristics of the internet and recognise the multiple parties and processes involved in internet governance in order to make cyber diplomacy more impactful. The major challenges to cyber diplomacy that are examined include achieving the goal of a free, open and secure internet, ensuring DNS security, and adapting to the non-state-based or -centred approaches to internet governance. The chapter recommends the adoption of multi-stakeholder and consensus-based approaches and the development of legal and technical competencies to address these concerns. By embracing the complicated nature of internet governance, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities and advantages for more effective and responsive cyber diplomacy.