The subject examines laws protecting privacy and regulating data surveillance in both public administration and electronic commerce. Australian laws are examined in their international context. There is emphasis on the role of technologies in both privacy protection and privacy invasion. Topics may include: uses and effectiveness of data surveillance; data surveillance law as a new method of public administration; identification (population registers, smart cards, digital signatures etc); general law and administrative law protection of privacy; 'Information Privacy Principles' as a new general body of privacy law; sector-specific privacy legislation (eg credit reporting, spent convictions, health, telecommunications); personal data exports. Each student will conduct research on the legality, use and effectiveness of data surveillance techniques, and the effects of data protection law, on one area of public administration or commercial practice. The subject is supported by extensive Internet resources (see http://www2.austlii.edu.au).