Professor Mark Burdon
Faculty of Business & Law,
School of Law
Biography
My primary research interests are privacy, information privacy law and the regulation of information security. I focus on the complex privacy issues that arise from the sensorisation of everyday devices and infrastructures. These issues are explored significantly in my book, Digital Data Collection and Information Privacy Law, published by Cambridge University Press. Recent research examines the privacy issues that arise from smart homes particularly involving domestic violence reporting and commercial uses of smart home sensor data. Previous research includes a diverse range of multi-disciplinary projects involving:- The regulation of information security practices;
- Legislative frameworks for the mandatory reporting of data breaches;
- Data sharing in e-government information frameworks;
- Privacy and consumer protection in e-commerce and
- Information protection standards for e-courts.
- My new book, Digital Data Collection and Information Privacy Law, argues for the reformulation of information privacy law to regulate the new power consequences of ubiquitous data collection. The book provides a foundation for future law reform and calls for stronger information privacy law protections. Julie Cohen describes the book as ‘a roadmap for operationalising privacy in a world where everything is connected and collected.’ Mark Andrejevic calls it ‘foundational for reinventing what we mean when we talk about privacy for years to come.’
- In a two-part blog, I examine COVID-19 contact tracing developments and the future legal consequences that flow, based on modulated power. I argue “... the mobile phone, is being used to shape and segment our notion of citizenry and...to shape our understanding of information privacy..."
- My Computers & Security article with Lizzie Coles-Kemp on the importance of understanding the socio-political context of information security practice.
- My work has featured in two dedicated ABC Radio National (RN) recorded programs: ‘The Smart Home as Safer Space’ RN Future Tense (2017) and ‘The Sensor Society’ RN Big Ideas (2014).
- An interview with Channel 7 news on the use of email location tracking by real estate agents.
- I created, with Heather Douglas, a brief video explainer on technology, domestic violence and privacy based on findings from Heather’s ARC Future Fellowship. Our research also resulted in a journal article for the University of New South Wales Law Journal on non-consensual mobile phone recordings and surveillance device law.
- My work with Mark Andrejevic on the advent of a 'Sensor Society.' Full article here.
- My TEDx talk on the Sensor Society, including the implications of Barbie Home, a sensorised and ‘smart’ Barbie doll.
- My work with Paul Harpur on big data discriminations involving recruitment and employee tracking. Full journal article here.
- Development of legal validation strategies for converting legislation into machine readable code.
- Examination of privacy policies relating to the popular smart home products in Australia.
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Business & Law,
School of Law
Keywords
Information Privacy, Privacy Law, Data Protection, Cybersecurity, Information Security regulation, RegTech
Research field
Law, Policy and Administration, Other Information and Computing Sciences
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (Queensland University of Technology)
- Master of Science (University of London)
Teaching
I currently teach the information privacy elements of LLB250 'Law, Privacy and Data Ethics.' LLB250 Overview We live in an era where major advances in data-driven technologies are fundamentally changing many aspects of society. These technologies are not only becoming crucial to many businesses, which seek new avenues for creating competitive advantages and value, but also increasingly enmeshed in aspects of our everyday lives. This unit, therefore, explores the legal, ethical and social challenges raised by data-driven technologies in two main parts. The first centres on the information privacy law issues that arise from large-scale collection and aggregation of person information the second relates to the application of data analytics. Exploration of the challenges raised by different technologies across both parts of this unit are guided by broader considerations of fairness, accountability and transparency (FAT). Teaching Style I use an inquiry-based learning approach that embeds consideration of critical questions in real-life practice. The mechanics of information privacy law can be 'dry' and it is in real-life and relevant application where the importance of fully appreciating the law's true importance becomes apparent. My teaching of information privacy law thus embeds students within their own use of everyday devices and platforms to critically examine new data collection business models and the application of law.
Publications
- Burdon, M., (2020). Digital Data Collection and Information Privacy Law. Cambridge University Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/200388
- Burdon, M. & Mackie, T. (2020). Australia’s Consumer Data Right and the uncertain role of information privacy law. International Data Privacy Law, 10(3). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/203572
- Burdon, M. & Coles-Kemp, L. (2019). The significance of securing as a critical component of information security: An Australian narrative. Computers and Security, 87, 1–10.
- Douglas, H. & Burdon, M. (2018). Legal responses to non-consensual smartphone recordings in the context of domestic and family violence. The University of New South Wales law journal, 41(1), 157–184. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120793
- Burdon, M. & Andrejevic, M. (2016). Big data in the sensor society. In HR. Ekbia, CR. Sugimoto & M. Mattioli (Eds.), Big data is not a monolith (Information Policy Series) (pp. 61–75). The MIT Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120797
- Andrejevic, M. & Burdon, M. (2015). Defining the sensor society. Television and New Media, 16(1), 19–36. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120799
- Siganto, J. & Burdon, M. (2015). The privacy commissioner and own-motion investigations into serious data breaches: A case of going through the motions? University of New South Wales Law Journal, 38(3), 1145–1185. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120798
- Burdon, M. & Harpur, P. (2014). Re-conceptualising privacy and discrimination in an age of talent analytics. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 37(2), 679–712. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120800
- Burdon, M. & McKillop, A. (2013). The Google street view Wi-Fi scandal and its repercussions for privacy regulation. Monash University Law Review, 39(3), 702–738. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120803
- Burdon, M., (2010). Contextualizing the tensions and weaknesses of data breach notification and information privacy law. Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal, 27(1), 63–129. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/38519
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Mark, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Supervision
Current supervisions
- The Information Privacy Law Challenges Presented By Highly Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVS) - a Human Centred Design Approach to Law Reform
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Adjunct Professor Belinda Bennett