Exploring cyber data collection

Cyber data collection will be the focus of this month’s University of Adelaide Research Tuesday event, featuring criminology experts Dr Russell Brewer, Dr Katie Logos and internationally recognised legal expert Dr Colette Langos.

The event, happening on Tuesday, 11 June, will explain the ways digital data can be collected and used.

“Accessing personal details has become easier than ever because of digital innovations such as web scrapers and automated tools used for cyber data collection,” said Dr Brewer.

“The information gathered by web scrapers is used for a range of purposes, such as law enforcement, journalism, academia, national intelligence, and marketing.

“On one hand, easy access to high-quality data can be beneficial for legitimate endeavors. On the other hand, regardless of the data collector’s intent, it raises profound ethical questions and legal risks.”

Web or data scraping is a technique in which a computer program extracts valuable information from a website to be used elsewhere.

In some forms, like an online search engine, or perhaps even for AI, web scraping can be beneficial; however, there are those who use it to harvest personal details.

“We are exploring the legal limitations, ethical implications, threat levels and potential upsides to data scraping to address crucial quandaries, including how cyber data collection is being used, and how your online information may be targeted,” said Dr Brewer.

Speakers

Dr Russell Brewer is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Adelaide. He has a PhD from the Australian National University. His research interests include cybercrime, youth delinquency, crime prevention and policing. He has published his research findings through several leading publication outlets, holds multiple nationally competitive grants, and has been called upon by domestic and international government agencies to advise on policy.

Dr Katie Logos is a Lecturer of Criminology at the University of Adelaide. She has a PhD in Psychology from Flinders University. Dr Logos has led and contributed to various grant-funded projects, with her research intersecting two key areas – understanding factors underpinning criminal involvement for young people and individuals on the autism spectrum and examining the growing problem of child sexual abuse online and the development of techniques to prevent and reduce the victimisation of children.

Dr Colette Langos is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Adelaide. She is an internationally recognised expert in the area of misuse of technology and the law, with particular expertise in cyberbullying. Dr Langos has published extensively on the definition, impact and the legal regulation of negative online behaviours. She has consulted for government departments and is cited numerous times in federal parliament and the South Australian Supreme Court.

Research Tuesdays is a popular lecture series by the University of Adelaide and tickets are limited, so registration is required; it will also be streamed online.

When 

Tuesday, 11 June. 5:30-6:30 pm.                                                                                                                                                    

Where 

The Braggs Building, North Terrace campus, The University of Adelaide                                                                

Tickets 

Click here to reserve an in-person ticket / Click here to register for the online webinar.