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Overview

Explores the changing relationships between technology, social media, crime and law enforcement practices.

About this paper

Paper title Crime, Technology and Social Change
Subject Criminology
EFTS 0.1500
Points 18 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2026 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,103.10
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
18 200-level SOCI or CRIM points or 108 points
Restriction
SOCI 312
Schedule C
Arts and Music

Overview

Explores the changing relationships between technology, social media, crime and law enforcement practices.

CRIM 312 explores the changing relationships between technology, social media and law enforcement practices.

This paper begins by exploring how cyberspace has changed how people commit traditional crimes, while also exploring how the digital arena has opened up avenues for entirely new types of criminal activity. The paper will then explore how law enforcement has adopted the use of new technologies, with particular attention paid to debates around surveillance and privacy in the online realm. The paper finishes by exploring theoretical understandings of representations of crime in traditional media, before we explore the shift to social media and how we make sense of crime and justice in the contemporary digital era.

About this paper

Paper title Crime, Technology and Social Change
Subject Criminology
EFTS 0.1500
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
18 200-level SOCI or CRIM points or 108 points
Restriction
SOCI 312
Schedule C
Arts and Music
Eligibility

CRIM students must have already taken CRIM 101 as a prerequisite. 

Contact

sgsc@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Course Co-ordinator: Dr Fairleigh Gilmour

Teaching Arrangements

Two 50-minute lectures per week, plus a weekly tutorial. 

Textbooks

To be confirmed. 

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

By the end of the paper, students will: 

  • Develop a broad knowledge of key perspectives and debates around crime, technology and social control.
  • Understand how technology has shaped criminality.
  • Understand how technology has shaped crime control practices and perspectives.
  • Understand the impacts of social media on understandings of crime and crime control.
  • Through this use of theory and method, be able to demonstrate the ability to undertake critical thinking and reflection.
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