Online Power and Resistance
UndergraduateCUR-NET3032025
Understand the ways in which people try to exert, and resist, power online. Explore why algorithms, censorship, surveillance, and infrastructure matter, and how they might be reshaped.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 24 Aug 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 1 Sept 2025
- Price from
- $2,346
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Online Power and Resistance
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- analyse the relationship between sources of authority (public, commercial, political, expert, users) in Internet governance and the outcomes of decision-making about the Internet
- make recommendations for the development of policy and regulation for effective Internet governance
- analyse the Internet as a network of both freedom and control with reference both to social and technical aspects of the Internet.
- Introduction: Bodies and Borders Algorithms, Data, and Violence
- Political Censorship
- Moral Censorship
- Privacy and Terms of Use
- A Right to Privacy? Harassment Online
- Understanding Regulation
- The Architecture of Connection
- Digital Property and the Network
- Governing the Net
- Summary and Essay Workshop
This subject was previously known as Power, Politics and the Internet
The Internet has had a massive impact on our political systems, from grassroots activism through to global politics. This subject helps you to understand how and why this has happened, and why it matters. It explores the new challenges and possibilities for governance created by the Internet, as well as attempts to control the Internet by governments and others. Ultimately, you will come to understand how networked communications are intertwined with long-running political struggles around control and resistance.
Further Information: List of topics is indicative and subject to minor change prior to the start of each Study Period.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Essay 1 (20%)
- Exercise (40%)
- Essay 2 (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- CUR-NET204-Social Media, Communities and Networks
- CUR-NET205-The Digital Economy
- CUR-WEB101-Web Communications
- CUR-WEB207-Web Media
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
CUR-NET23 (Not currently available)
Others
NET24 is the same as NET204 and NET25 is the same as NET205.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media) (Professional Writing and Publishing)
UndergraduateCUR-ICP-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Digital and Social Media)
UndergraduateCUR-FAI-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media)
UndergraduateCUR-NET-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-ICV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Digital and Social Media)
UndergraduateCUR-DDI-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Korean Studies)
UndergraduateCUR-KOR-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing)
UndergraduateCUR-PWP-DEG
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