ZAP // Sergei Tokmakov, 0fjd125GK87 / PIXABAY
Can machines really understand justice, equity and human rights?
In what seems to be the plot of a science fiction film passed on a dystopia, the United Arab Emirates They have a new bold plan: let the artificial intelligence write the laws.
According to the maximum responsible for the United Arab Emirates want to deliver much of the legislative process – write, update and review laws – at ia.
The idea is that this will lead to smarter rules, faster governance and less bureaucratic barrels.
It is a unprecedented experience in the worldwhich allows machines to shape the legal code of an entire country.
“This new legislative system, fueled by artificial intelligence, will change the way we create the laws, making the process faster and more accurate,” said the sheche Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoumalso ruler of Dubai, for the state media.
But while the proposal seems attractive, the implications are anything but simple.
Why?
Legislative systems are notoriously slow, inefficient and often simply confused. The writing of new laws may take years and the political impasse may block important reforms.
The process also tends to make laws verb and complex, making it sometimes extremely difficult for ordinary people to understand them.
In theory, AI can overcome this. Can analyze thousands of laws in seconds, detect inconsistencies, identify gaps and until I remove ideas from other countries with similar legal systems.
It is undoubtedly A powerful tool. It can help legislators focus on real problems instead of wasting time with paperwork or political theater.
This new system, which will be supervised by a government unit called Regulatory Intelligence Office, will resort to a huge local and federal law databasejudicial decisions and government records.
AI will then analyze all this data and suggest legal corrections, adjustments and updates. And yes, it will even write the law in simple language, in various languages, so that everyone in the country – from judges to expatriates – can understand it.
In a country like the US, where 90% of the population is not a citizenthis can be transformative.
According to those responsible for the country, the system can Reduce Writing Time of 70%legislation. But critics warn that experience can sacrifice transparency, equity and democratic control of the process.
Can run terribly bad
The problem is that laws are not just a matter of efficiency. They have to do with Justice, Rights and Values. And that’s where things get complicated: the idea can run terribly evil – of more than one way.
Firstly, AI systems They are still not reliable. “These systems still ‘hallucinates facts’ and have reliability problems and robustness ”, explains Vincent StraubIA investigator in Oxford, to s.
In other words, Invent things.
Worse yet, AI does not understand the human consequencess. Does not understand the context. And definitely does not understand justice.
As explained Marina of yourInformatics Scientist at the University of Bath, AI can propose something that makes sense to a machine But it may make no sense to be implemented – and eventually decide people’s lives based on things that simply make no sense in our society.
After, There is the problem of lobbies and abuse.
AI is not limited to writing perfectly balanced laws – it has its own trends and can even be used as a weapon to manipulate them subtlers.
US researchers Bruce Schneier e Nathan Sanders warn that artificial intelligence can create what they call “microlegislation“, Note or: small hidden adjustments to bills that serve powerful interests without anyone noticing.
Want to tilt the rules in favor of a company or sector? Feed yours with the right data and it will discreetly rewrite the field of play.
Bureaucracy exists for a reason
There is another reason why the United Arab Emirates are experiencing this: because They are not a democracy. It is an authoritarian state that has been described as a “tribal autocracy“In which the seven constituent monarchies are directed by tribal rulers in an autocratic way.
Our water There are no democratically elected institutions And there is no formal commitment to freedom of expression. In other words, the rulers of the EAU need not earn votes nor to discuss bills in Parliament.
This circumstance gives it a unique advantage When it comes to testing large digital reforms. But obviously this means that there is little room for dissent or public control.
If it would make a wrong decision or that benefits the powerful over the ordinary citizen, there is few mechanisms to contest or review.
The result may be a faster legal systemyes – but also more opaque, less responsible and potentially dangerousin ways that only become clear after the damage has been caused.
“The law is fundamentally a human effort“, it says Ahmad Al-khalilLegal Specialist of the EAU, A, a newspaper of the United Arab Emirates. “THE human supervision remains crucialespecially with regard to rights, equity and interpretation. ”
For now, the Eau have not revealed What AI tools will useas they plan to ensure that they are safe and responsible, not exactly how the process will work.
But this may end up being an experience whose results will echo around the world. The tools already exist; The only question is Know how they are used.
