Courts, technology and the boundaries of expertise

The popularity of 'new' technologies, such as the Internet and similar interactive media, has propelled controversies relating to their applications and purposes into the courtroom. Contemporary jurisprudence is now confronted with a constellation of issues which, while frequently masked as purely technical in nature, concern fundamental themes such as privacy and freedom of expression. This paper examines how courts have traditionally adjudicated technological issues and argues that future decisions will require an increased recognition of the ethical and social claims presented within these contexts.