Maria O'Sullivan

Associate Professor Maria O'Sullivan is a legal scholar at Deakin Law School, Deakin University, where she is affiliated with the Faculty of Business and Law, the Deakin Cyber Research and Innovation Centre, and the Centre for Law as Protection. She specializes in public law, human rights law, refugee law, and the legal implications of artificial intelligence and automation.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Law from Monash University and a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex (UK). She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) from the Australian National University.

Maria O'Sullivan's research focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and human rights. Key areas include AI and government decision-making, automated welfare systems, refugee protection, protest rights, electoral integrity, and national security law. Her work emphasizes transparency, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable populations in the digital age.

Her recent scholarly output reveals a strong trend toward analyzing the legal and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies. Articles examine AI's impact on freedom of information, the right to an effective remedy, and automated decision-making in social security. She also investigates pseudolaw, disinformation, and the legal frameworks governing protests and online content moderation. Her publications appear in leading journals and edited collections, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement with technology and governance.

• Publications and Impact: Her research has been cited in the High Court of Australia, by the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and in parliamentary and law reform reports.
• Media and Public Engagement: She is a regular contributor to The Conversation, providing expert commentary on current legal issues.
• Grants and Professional Activities: She is involved in a Public Intoxication Reform Evaluation funded by the Victorian Department of Justice.

Maria O'Sullivan supervises higher degree research students and welcomes PhD, Masters, and Honours candidates in public law, human rights, and refugee law. She is actively engaged in research collaboration and consulting, contributing to both academic and policy debates on the future of law in a technological society.