Law professor publishes book on effects of emerging technology

By Antonio Miguel Escorzon •

 

Olga Zaynetdinova, third-year student in the Shepard Broad College of Law, believes understanding artificial intelligence can help in the professional fields.

“Artificial intelligence can be applied to society, as it holds potential across a wide range of fields,” Zaynetdinova said. “The question is not whether we need it, but rather if we have the understanding to apply it effectively.”

Zaynetdinova said this after reading “How AI, Metaverses, Crypto, and Cyber will Upend the 21st Century,” the latest book by Jon M. Garon, professor of law in the Shepard Broad College of Law and director of the Goodwin Program for Society, Technology, and the Law. Edward Elgar Press published the book on Aug. 7.

“How AI, Metaverses, Crypto, and Cyber will Upend the 21st Century” is a culmination of years of work on the regulatory and social effects made by emerging technology. Garon has developed this book for more than two years during his 10-year teaching career at NSU. Previously, Garon wrote a series of law review articles, on which his book is based.

Garon explores the development of technology, from the printing press to the internet.

“I started the conversation with the printing press, which was the most important invention of the modern age,” Garon said.

After the printing press, technology then developed toward phones, television, computers, then social media.

With new technology, it becomes harder for people to protect privacy.

“The data economy has destroyed privacy,” Garon said, after being asked about modern challenges.

Rather than trying to protect privacy, Garon recommends disallowing companies and governments from misusing the data of people, focusing on protection from harm over protecting of information.

“This approach would lead to significant policy changes in policing, insurance, education, healthcare, employment, housing and finance,” Garon said. “As we create technology and use social media, these tools we use change the nature of society.”

Garon saw during his practice as an entertainment lawyer that his clients were switching over to the internet.

“My first internet-based client was in 1994, shortly after the Mosaic Browser released for the internet,” Garon said.

The legal field reacts and society changes, as innovative technology emerge and blend into the everyday life of society.

Eric Finkelstein, third-year student at the Shepard Broad College of Law, believes while AI can positively affect wider society’s facets, there is still a large, persistent issue.

“Artificial intelligence is a tool that generates responses through its systems by input and feedback,” Finkelstein said. “We must be cautious, do our own work and not be over reliant on artificial intelligence.”

Garon said that technology has generally benefited education, particularly the student-teacher relationship.

“Texts, learning management systems and online meetings mean that faculty are available to students much more easily,” Garon said.

Now, for educators, there are online videos and publications, which add to materials in the learning environment. Students can provide feedback easily through online forums, commenting and email. Involving communication-based technology gives students opportunities to meet national experts over social platforms and take part in lectures remotely. Additionally, resource databases have aided law students in attaining knowledge on case law and Florida statutes.

“As technology evolutes in the legal side, there is the helpful aspect on communication and legal research,” Finkelstein said.

Antonio Miguel Escorzon, junior law major, is a contributing writer to The Current.