Quantum & Law - Legal & Ethical Questions for the Second Quantum Revolution

The second quantum revolution will bring advances in computing, communications, and sensing that will transform our world. The introduction of novel technologies poses many complex legal and ethical questions. How will our current legal infrastructure support this transition? What does law have to offer the ethical development of emerging quantum technologies? And how will quantum change the way we think about law?

The Quantum& Law event, co-hosted by the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) and the Australian Society for Computers and Law (AUSCL), will open the conversation and interrogate these and other questions. Our panel of experts working at the intersection of emerging technologies, law and ethics will illuminate the important questions that our legal system poses to the development and deployment of quantum technologies and explore what law offers the future of quantum.

This is a non-specialist event open to interested minds from all sectors, disciplines, and walks of life. There will be time set aside at the end of the event for a Q&A, and we invite our audience to present any questions they may have to our panellists and moderator.

About the Speakers and Panelists

SQA Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr Robin Harper, will present a brief introduction on the SQA and quantum technology. Dr Harper’s research focuses on quantum information science, tomography, and quantum error-correcting codes.

Marina Yastreboff is the Inaugural President of the Australian Society for Computers + Law and Senior IP Counsel at the University of New South Wales. She is admitted as a solicitor in multiple jurisdictions and has held senior roles across a range of companies, from start-ups to Fortune Global 500. Her passions include intangible asset governance, translation deep tech research and multidisciplinary approaches to design. Marina is a member of the Advisory Board IAPP (ANZ), Board member of the International Federation of Computer Law Associations and Advisory Board member of the Allens Hub for Technology, Law & Innovation. Marina will moderate the panel discussion and Q&A session.

Elija Perrier is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Quantum Software and Information at the University of Technology Sydney. His doctoral research focuses on the field of quantum machine learning, including quantum algorithm design, geometric and statistical learning theory and quantum control. Elija is a practicing lawyer, tutor in constitutional law and jurisprudence at Macquarie University and as a data scientist focusing on political science.

Professor Lyria Bennett Moses is the Director of the Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation and a Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW Sydney. She is also co-lead of the Law and Policy theme in the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre. Lyria's research explores issues around the relationship between technology and law, including the types of legal issues that arise as technology changes, how these issues are addressed in Australia and other jurisdictions, and the problems of treating “technology” as an object of regulation.

Dr. Ian Oppermann is the NSW Government’s Chief Data Scientist working within the Department of Customer Service. He is also an Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). From 2015 to 2019, Ian was also the CEO of the NSW Data Analytics Centre (DAC). Ian is considered a thought leader in the area of the Digital Economy and is a regular speaker on “Big Data”, broadband enabled services and the impact of technology on society.

Professor Cameron Stewart is a member of Sydney Health Law and an associate member of Sydney Health Law, Sydney Medical School. He has degrees in economics, law and jurisprudence. He has worked in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and has practiced commercial law at Phillips Fox Lawyers. His previous appointment was at Macquarie Law School, where he spent 10 years, the last of which as Dean. His research interests include health law and ethics.

This event is co-hosted with Australian Society for Computers and Law (AUSCL).

The Australian Society for Computers and Law (AUSCL) is an interdisciplinary inter-generational think-tank promoting sustainable law, technology and society through its education program and policy lab. The society focuses on the intersection of law, technology and policy and its impact on society, including AI, Privacy, Automated Decisions, Rules as Code and Cybersecurity. AUSCL brings together various state associations, which were established as early as 1981, and attracts members and speakers from across the globe. AUSCL is honored to have The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG as patron.

AUSCL provides an important forum for discussion, debate and is committed to providing a balanced and informed advocacy on issues of critical importance for the future of technology, law, and society as a means for promoting fairness, democracy, and the rule of law.