ASC320 - Conspiracies, Misinformation, and Hatred in the Age of AI

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes: Trimester 3: Online
Credit point(s): 1
EFTSL value: 0.125
Cohort rule: Nil
Prerequisite:

At least eight credit points towards your degree

Corequisite: Nil
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.

Scheduled learning activities - online

1 x 1-hour online seminar per week

Note:

While this unit will discuss the social changes around sexual identity and the internet, as well as sex crimes on the net, students will not be required to, nor be able to, access internet pornography sites. University policy clearly states that users of university servers are prohibited from accessing pornographic or other such sites and the unit team thoroughly endorses this policy

Content

This online unit will explore the main social harms associated with the use of digital technologies, with a particular focus on the recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The unit examines issues such as the propagation of misinformation in online networks, the nexus between online activity and real-world crimes and the social and political responses to these emerging threats. Using social science research methods and theories, the unit seeks to comprehend and assess these phenomena. It also utilises industry-oriented approaches drawn from members of government and non-government organisations working in the field of online hate prevention. A range of disciplines, including sociology, criminology, social psychology, and political science, are used to understand these changes. The unit provides a platform to enhance understand of how living in a society permeated by AI brings new and exciting opportunities but also new threats and risks. Students will be required to use generative AI tools to complete all assignments and will be encouraged to reflect critically on their use, with the aim of developing a critical capacity to utilise generative AI effectively.

Unit Fee Information

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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.

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