The New Zealand Law Foundation has launched a $2 million Information Law and Policy Project, aimed at developing law and policy around IT, data, information and cyber security.

The project will bring together teams of experts to examine challenges and opportunities in areas like global information, cyber security, data exploitation and technology-driven social change.

The Law Foundation says seven broad themes of inquiry have been identified and research projects will align with these:

• The global nature of information - how we manage it and trade in it.

• Cyber security and crime - what capabilities are needed to protect against this?

• Social change following technological change - how is technology affecting society and how can the law keep up?

• Ownership/exploitation of data - how can citizens control use of their data?

• Philosophical notions - looking at the impact of technology on the State and what that means for democracy and other constitutional issues.

• The ethics of inference -algorithmic decision making and its implications for society.

• The exclusionary effect of technology - catering for citizens and business lacking the ability to access and unlock the benefits of technology.

The Law Foundation says the research teams will have around three years to complete their projects. It says university law schools are working closely with it on the project and a special feature will be the collaborative approach to research.

Further information on the project and a guide to how to submit applications and expressions of inferest is available here.