Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic

The Clinic brings in a whole range of experts at the intersection of technology and public policy 鈥 practitioners, innovators, legislators 鈥 and provides law students with an avenue to contribute meaningfully to actual policy creation. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Professor Covington, and I consistently draw on some of the skills honed in the Clinic in my legal practice.
— Silas Alexander, J.D.

About the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic

The Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic (Tech-Law Clinic) operates at the dynamic intersection of public policy, emerging technologies, and digital responsibility. Offering both doctrinal and practical introductions to key areas of technology regulation, the Clinic engages deeply with privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, and AI governance, providing students with cutting-edge insights into some of today's most critical legal and policy challenges.

Historically, Tech-Law Clinic students have significantly shaped technology policy in Washington state. Clinicians drafted legislation leading to the establishment of Washington鈥檚 Office of Privacy and Data Security, contributed to the passage of Washington House Bill 1788 (criminalizing non-consensual pornography, or "revenge porn"), and supported Washington House Bill 2970, establishing guidelines for autonomous vehicle policy. Locally, the Clinic has also assisted in amending Seattle鈥檚 Surveillance Ordinance, underscoring its deep commitment to meaningful community impact.

Beyond legislative advocacy, students collaborate across disciplines, drawing valuable insights from science and technology studies, computer and information science, human-centered design and engineering, as well as broader perspectives on technology, ethics, policy, and design. Recent Clinic projects have tackled topics including algorithmic discrimination, distributed energy systems, TOR exit nodes, the regulation of 3D printers, and police use of body cameras, reflecting the Clinic's expansive scope and forward-looking approach.

Through the Tech-Law Clinic, students not only learn the intricacies of policymaking but also develop critical skills in stakeholder engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, policy drafting, and advocacy. The Clinic offers an opportunity to actively influence policymaking processes, equipping students to navigate鈥攁nd shape鈥攖he rapidly evolving landscape of technology law and public policy.

Projects

2024鈥2025 student undertakings

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    Clinic students will provide strategic policy research for the Washington Attorney General鈥檚 AI task force, examining emerging AI regulations at state, federal, and international levels, and tracking litigation involving AI systems, including harmful decision-making, intellectual property, and tort law. Students will develop and publish detailed reports offering policy recommendations to guide state and local lawmakers and executive leadership.
  • Affective Computing in Law Enforcement
    This project involves executing public records requests across Washington State law enforcement agencies regarding their use of affective computing technologies, such as emotion recognition and sentiment analysis. Students will publish comprehensive reports providing research findings and policy recommendations for policymakers and executive leaders. Participants may also pursue an academic publication based on their findings.
  • Social Media Monitoring
    Clinic members will conduct targeted public records requests to the Washington State Department of Corrections to investigate their use of social media monitoring technologies. The goal is to provide transparency and inform regulatory oversight. Students will compile research findings and develop policy recommendations, publishing reports intended to guide state lawmakers and executive leadership.
  • Biometric Privacy
    Students will analyze recent biometric privacy enforcement actions and legislative developments in states such as Washington, Texas, and Illinois, with a focus on developments since Washington鈥檚 biometric privacy laws were enacted. The team will develop a detailed report that includes policy recommendations for state lawmakers and executive stakeholders, aiming to enhance regulatory understanding and effectiveness.

Tech-Law Clinic News

(Sep 30, 2021 | Source: Wired)

鈥淚t does sound unusual, but it's worth noting that this whole circumstance is unusual,鈥 says Tim O鈥橞rien, a tech industry executive currently working on AI policy at Microsoft, who studied geofence warrants at the 红桃视频. 鈥淚f I were law enforcement, I would argue that the three-step process is unnecessary in this case, because the moment you set foot inside the Capitol, you became a suspect or witness.鈥
Legal Issues With AI
The title "Legal Issues with AI" in front of a simulated rolling landscape of binary code.

Legal Issues With AI

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The implementation of AI technologies is ever-present, but what underlying worries should users and developers be concerned about? We asked Tech-Law director Jevan Hutson.

New Additions in Clinical Law
Jevan Hutson, Jeannine Lemker and Nicole McGrath

New Additions in Clinical Law

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The Clinical Law program is pleased to announce three incoming clinic directors: Jevan Hutson for Technology Law and Public Policy, Jeannine Lemker for the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic and Nicole McGrath for the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic.

My Health My Data
Students from the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic.

My Health My Data

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A group of students in the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic spent the school year unraveling the complexities of consumer health data privacy, advocating for the privacy rights of Washingtonians.

Clinics Updates: Students and faculty advise, inform, advocate amid COVID-19
Students with Drone

Clinics Updates: Students and faculty advise, inform, advocate amid COVID-19

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Students and faculty in the Tax, Technology Law and Public Policy, and Tribal Court clinics address issues raised by COVID-19.

Clinical Diagnosis

Clinical Diagnosis

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UW鈥檚 Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic 鈥 old law in new tech and how lawyers can guide smarter policy