The Ethical Implications of Lawtech
Résumé
The development of information and communications technology has changed the work of many professionals and may now be radically changing the functioning of the legal system. ‘Lawtech’, or technology which supports, replaces, or improves the provision of legal services and the operation of the justice system, has become more and more important.Lawtech raises significant ethical issues. It often relies on so-called ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI), but this does not ‘think’ as humans do. Software, such as machine learning tools, can help judges to make decisions. Some jurisdictions are replacing judges with AI. Lawyers also use AI to predict the outcomes of litigation. These tools can be more transparent and fairer. However, they may also be more opaque. Also, researchers raise questions about whether the data and processes used in these applications simply reflects and strengthens existing biases and prejudices.Lawtech provides an opportunity to improve the operation of the legal services market and the justice system for the benefit for the citizen and the consumer. However, this is not certain, and it could worsen existing problems or create new ones. This will require careful consideration and more research in the future.
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