ACR304 - Digital Criminology: Technologies of Crime and Control
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Andi Brown |
| Prerequisite: | Students must complete 4 credit points at any level |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ACR210 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
What happens when crime goes digital and how should we respond? This unit explores how platforms, devices and data infrastructures are implicated in new and evolving forms of harm, from digital coercive control, deepfake abuse, and dating app-facilitated violence to ransomware and illicit marketplaces. We’ll also examine how governments, courts, police, and private tech companies are using digital tools to police, predict and prevent these harms – often in ways that raise new questions about accountability, oversight and inequality. Through critically examining these issues, this unit will equip you with the tools to understand, evaluate and help shape responses to the challenges posed by emerging technologies of crime and control.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Demonstrate advanced knowledge of how digital technologies shape criminalised behaviours, regulation, and responses to harm | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO6: Self-management |
| ULO2 | Critically evaluate policy and legal responses to digital harms across different jurisdictions | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO6: Self-management |
| ULO3 | Communicate complex criminological ideas clearly and effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy |
| ULO4 | Interpret and analyse structured data sets to identify patterns and gaps in policy responses to digital harms | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year.
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Citizen social science class exercises/online exercises | 1000 words or equivalent | 25% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 2: Report | 1750 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 10 |
| Assessment 3: Practicum | 1250 words or equivalent | 35% | Exam Week |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ACR304 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.