DRAFT
Policing the Virtual World
A workshop co-organised by the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics & the
Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security, Charles Sturt University.
Date: Thursday 14 April 2016
Location: Room xxx, Ground Floor seminar suite, Charles Sturt University, 10 Brisbane
Avenue, Barton 2600, ACT.
Time: 12.30pm – 5.30pm
The workshop is intended to be suitable for a mixed audience of academics and practitioners.
Light refreshments will be available from 12.00pm.
12.30-12.35. Welcome and Introductions
Session 1: Terrorism in the Virtual World.
Chair: Nick O’Brien (Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security, CSU)
12.30-12.55: ‘Terrorism in the Virtual World’. Speaker: Levi West (Australian Graduate
School of Policing and Security, CSU)
12.55-1.20: ‘Countering-terrorism in the Virtual World’. Speaker: Seumas Miller (Centre for
Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, CSU, and 3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology,
Delft University of Technology, The Hague.)
1.20-1.30: Respondent. Peter Whowell (Counter-Terrorism Engagement, Australian Federal
Police)
1.30-2.00: Discussion
Session 2: Policing Virtual Spaces
Chair: Adam Henschke (National Security College, ANU)
2.05-2.50: 'Proportionate Intrusions’. Speaker: Dr Chris Nathan (Politics and International
Studies, University of Warwick).
Abstract: Under what conditions can police and security services justifiably intercept messages and calls,
examine internet connection records, deploy undercover officers, or hack encrypted communications? It is
generally agreed that intrusions should always be proportionate. But proportionality is a poorly understood idea
in public discourse. Surprisingly, the legal concept of proportionality in this area often does not formally give to
innocent but useful targets the extra protections that popular opinion would expect. In this paper I examine the
reasons for this, and how we might give innocence and responsibility their proper place.
2.50-3.00: Respondent. Dr Tobias Feakin (Australian Strategic Policy Institute)
3.00-3.30: Discussion
3.30-4.00: Afternoon tea
Session 3: On-Line Grooming and Preventive Justice
Chair: Suzanne Uniacke (Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, CSU)
4.00-4.45: ‘On-Line Grooming and Preventive Justice’. Speaker: Tom Sorell (University of
Warwick).
Abstract: Grooming is one of a range of preparatory offences—there are many connected with terrorism in UK
legislation—that have sometimes been claimed to be unjustly or questionably criminalized. I consider critically
the general argument against the criminalization of preparatory offences, comment favourably on Section 15 of
the Sexual Offences Act (2005), which specifies a well-framed preparatory offence—but identify problems with
certain aspects of online policing in this area.
4.45-4.55: Respondent. Alastair MacGibbon (Australian Children’s e-Safety Commissioner)
4.55-5.25. Discussion
5.25-5.30. Closing remarks.
About the speakers and respondents:
Dr Tobias Feakin is a Senior Analyst for National Security and Director of National
Security Programs and Head of the International Cyber Policy Centre at the Australian
Strategic Policy Institute.
Dr Christopher Nathan is Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom,
engaged on the GULF, AIO, and Integrator projects.
Mr Alastair MacGibbon, is a leading on line safety expert. He is the Australian Children’s
e-Safety Commissioner.
Prof Seumas Miller is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy,
CSU, and the principal investigator for the European Research Council Advance Grant
project, ‘Global Terrorism and Collective Moral Responsibility: Redesigning Military, Police
and Intelligence Institutions in Liberal Democracies’.
Prof Tom Sorell is Professor of Philosophy and Politics at the University of Warwick and
leader of two Work Packages in the current EU FP7 SURVEILLE project.
Mr Levi West is a lecturer at the AGSPS, CSU. He has an extensive background in national
security focused academia, with a focus on non-state violence and terrorism. He is currently
completing a doctoral thesis on the impact of technology on insurgency.
Mr Peter Whowell is Manager of Counter-Terrorism Engagement and Operations Support at
the Australian Federal Police.