New+Technology

**New Technology** Alexandra and Azra OH HEY MAN!! The law is always put under pressure by advances in technology. New technology contributes to changes that may be either radical and sweeping or subtle and incremental. For example the invention of the petrol powered motor vehicle changed the way people lived in industrial countries in the 20th century. This invention required new laws regarding subjects such as safety, ownership and licensing, eventually laws regarding envrionmental protection were also developed. After the development of lifesupport devices and treatment in the 1960s, the legal definition of death has been changed. Rather than referring to the cessation of respiration and heartbeat, most jurisdictions now require irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain. Due to this new invention, it is now possible to keep a persons heart and lungs opperating for a significant period of time despite no brain function. Progresses have also been made in birth technology, meaning children can now be concieved from donated biological material. The law, on both a state and federal level, has had to accomadate for this technological advance. Making admentments in fields such as parentage, inheritance and financial maintenance. The law has also had to clarify and differentiate biological rights and obligations from social rights and obligations. The use of DNA evidence in criminal matters has led to convictions where previously without other physical evidence there would of been no conviction. As technology has improved, so has the chances of solving previous cases that have been disregarded. For example, in NSW there are more than 400 unresolved homocides dating back to 1975, because DNA is very stable and can be significant for a long period of time, biological materialscollected can still be used decades later. This will help create DNA profiles for future analysis. In 2008, some of these unresolved were reopened as a result of this advance in technology. //The Crime (Forensic Procedures) Act 2000 (NSW)// was introduced to set guidelines for DNA testing of criminal suspects. This Act determines who may be tested and who may order the test as well as detailed requirements for how the procedures may be conducted. Over the past ten years, as technology has advanced there has also been an increase in what is known as identity theft and fraud.