The 28th IPSA World Congress of Political Science, to be held in Seoul, South Korea from 12-16 July 2025, under the theme Autocratization in Polarized Societies.
Oscar Pérez de la Fuente will present a paper titled «Artificial Intelogence and Virtue Jurisprudence» in the workshop «Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Judiciary».
Workhsop «Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Judiciary»
Chair
Prof. Jędrzej Skrzypczak (Poland)
Discussant
Dr. Oscar Perez de la Fuente (Spain)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents significant challenges for both democracy and the judiciary, raising concerns about accountability, fairness, and the erosion of foundational democratic principles. In democratic societies, AI-driven systems are increasingly employed in areas like voting processes, public administration, and law enforcement. While these technologies offer efficiencies, they also risk undermining democratic values by introducing biases, reducing transparency, and concentrating power in the hands of a few technocrats and corporations. AI algorithms’ opacity can lead to difficult decisions to scrutinise or contest, potentially disenfranchising citizens and eroding public trust in democratic institutions.
In the judiciary, AI is being integrated into legal research, case management, and even judicial decision-making. While AI can enhance efficiency and consistency in legal processes, it also poses risks to the fundamental principles of justice. The use of AI in predicting recidivism or determining sentencing has raised ethical and legal questions about fairness, accountability, and the potential for reinforcing existing societal biases. Furthermore, the lack of transparency in AI algorithms can challenge the judiciary’s ability to provide reasoned judgments, undermining the right to a fair trial.
The challenges of AI for democracy and the judiciary are compounded by the rapid pace of technological advancement and the global nature of AI development, which often outstrips the capacity of existing legal and regulatory frameworks to adapt. To address these challenges, there is a need for robust governance structures that ensure AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with democratic principles. This includes the development of ethical guidelines, legal standards, and oversight mechanisms that safeguard against the risks posed by AI while harnessing its potential to enhance democratic governance and judicial processes. Balancing innovation with the protection of fundamental rights is crucial to ensure that AI contributes positively to society without undermining its core democratic values.
More information:
https://wc2025.ipsa.org/wc/panel/artificial-inteligence-human-rights-democracy-and-judiciary
Wokshop «Artificial Intelligence Systems and Threats to Human Rights»
Chair
Dr. Oscar Perez de la Fuente (Spain)
Discussant
Prof. Jędrzej Skrzypczak (Poland)
Description
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) systems raises several concerns regarding threats to protecting human rights. The panel will be dedicated to diagnosing these threats and developing strategies, international regulatory frameworks, and ethical standards for such systems to counteract these dangers. The right to employment is listed first among the human rights that may be threatened due to these processes. It is predicted that implementing AI will lead to a reduction or even elimination of jobs in sectors where machines can replace human labour. This, in turn, may lead to an increase in social inequalities. Another anticipated threat could be various forms of discrimination and inequality. It is pointed out that AI may reinforce existing biases and discrimination by favouring certain social groups at the expense of others. Another threat attributed to AI is the limitation of individual autonomy through decision-making on behalf of individuals or influencing their choices, such as in online recommendation systems that can steer users towards specific products, services, or information, limiting their freedom of choice. AI used in medicine may influence decisions regarding treatment, which may have consequences for patients’ rights to self-determination. Another area of human rights threat may be the violation of privacy when AI is used to collect, analyse, and process large amounts of personal data. Facial recognition, location tracking, and online behaviour analysis can be used for government and corporate surveillance. Freedom of speech may also be at risk due to AI, mainly through the use of AI in moderating online content, which could lead to unjustified censorship.
Furthermore, AI can be used to create disinformation (e.g., deepfakes), which can distort public debate and undermine trust in information, indirectly affecting freedom of speech. Threats to human rights can also be seen in the field of education. The application of artificial intelligence may also pose severe threats to democratic systems, including manipulation of the electoral process, further social polarisation, manipulation of information, and inequalities in access to technology. These are just some of the areas of human rights threats related to the development of AI systems that will be discussed during the panel.
More information: https://wc2025.ipsa.org/wc/panel/artificial-intelligence-systems-and-threats-human-rights
