Law, AI, and Ethics in Digital Societies
Focuses on emerging AI technology within legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks.
University of Calgary
Predictive Coding: Artificial Intelligence In Civil Litigation
University of San Diego
The Law of AI for Good
Columbia University
The False Choice Between Digital Regulation and Innovation
Vanderbilt University
Antitrust High-Tech Exceptionalism
Duke University
The Line: AI and The Future of Personhood
Overview
This theme explores the accelerating convergence of artificial intelligence with legal reasoning, regulatory systems, and foundational ethical questions in democratic societies. As machine learning systems shape decisions in litigation, governance, commerce, and even identity, legal frameworks are being tested and rewritten in real time. Far from being abstract or future-facing, these issues are now central to the design of policy, the architecture of markets, and the preservation of civil rights. The law is being asked to regulate not only technologies — but values, accountability, and power itself in the age of AI.
Why It Matters
- Rule of Law vs. Algorithmic Governance: AI challenges traditional legal accountability — who is liable when an algorithm harms?
- Ethics at Scale: Automated decisions can scale discrimination, bias, or exclusion across millions unless rigorously designed and governed.
- Democratic Legitimacy: Balancing innovation with democratic oversight is a defining issue of modern digital societies.
- Market Power: Dominant tech firms use AI to consolidate power, raising antitrust and fairness concerns that law must address.
Core Concepts
AI in Legal Practice
- How AI tools like predictive coding are reshaping civil litigation and discovery.
- The limits of transparency and explainability in legal AI.
AI for Good & the Myth of Neutrality
- How 'AI for good' is both a policy tool and a marketing slogan — requiring sharper legal scrutiny.
- The challenges of embedding ethical goals into algorithmic design.
Regulation vs. Innovation
- Debunks the binary between regulating AI and fostering innovation.
- Advocates for smart regulation that can do both.
Antitrust and Platform Power
- Argues against the notion that high-tech companies are beyond antitrust reach.
- Proposes a legal retooling for digital monopolies.
AI and Personhood
- Raises philosophical and legal questions about rights, agency, and the nature of being in the age of AI.
- Challenges to traditional legal categories (e.g., subject, object, agent).
Key Questions
Foundational
- What are the legal limits of algorithmic decision-making?
- Can ethical frameworks meaningfully constrain commercial AI?
Regulatory Political
- How can democracies regulate AI without stifling innovation or enabling authoritarianism?
- Is 'AI exceptionalism' justifiable in antitrust and consumer law?
Legal Theory Personhood
- Should AI systems be granted limited legal status or rights?
- Where do we draw the line between tool and entity?
Professional Practice
- How must legal professionals adapt to AI-integrated workflows?
- What ethical codes are needed for lawyers deploying AI tools?
Suggested Use
For Legal Practitioners
Guide internal policy on AI use in litigation, client data handling, or legal tech procurement.
For Technologists
Frame your development within legal and ethical boundaries to avoid future liability.
For Policymakers Researchers
Use as a foundation to develop governance models, regulatory proposals, or comparative studies across jurisdictions.