Innovations
The internet of things, artificial intelligence, quantum computers, robots, blockchain databases, neural networks, and many other things that look like an outtake from a sci-fi geek’s fantasy are now real, or at least are likely to become real in our lifetime. How do lawmakers react to those new developments? Can their regulations strangle innovations to death? Should they follow in their wake, or it’s better to set out the rules in advance? Let’s journey to this brave new world together.
AI Lawyer John Weaver: Government Should Introduce AI Regulation That Reflects What the Nation Would Like for the Country Once AI Is Everywhere
Artificial intelligence has been a dream and a fear for many of us ever since 2001: A Space Odyssey, if not before that. The fear that it will take over the humankind is often entwined with the high hopes that it will catapult us to yet unimaginary heights of technological prosperity. However, it’s obvious that …
Lock, Stock and a Printed Barrel: Legal Adventures of DIY Firearms
Thanks to 3D printing tech, you are now able to make a prosthetic leg, a nice bling-bling for a not so dear friend, or even a firearm as easily as renting a movie or buying tickets online. All you would need to make a gun is a proper blueprint, proper materials, and an actual 3D …
Centralized Government vs. Yet Bigger Data
Digital services have constantly been a clash with the rule of law and governance. It seems somewhat ironic when technologies such as deep learning software and self-executing code could be in the driving seat of administration. At the same time, in today’s world, humankind is skeptical about human knowledge and wisdom, the human’s capability to …
Are Summons Just Getting Tweeted Now? Analyzing the Legal Issues With Serving Formal Papers on Social Media
Last Friday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) served WikiLeaks via Twitter. While the microblog service is extremely popular within the White House these days, it’s one of only a handful of instances when it has been used for such an official purpose, maybe except that time when the U.S. Secretary of State found out he …
Everybody Hates Uber: Regulations, Outraged Taxi Drivers, and In-house Scandals That Ruin Their Business
Even though Uber gets extremely popular wherever it goes, not everyone is happy about the company’s advances around the world. The term “Uber effect” is often used when one needs to describe how a mobile app might disrupt the way things are done, and most importantly, were done for decades, if not centuries. As it …
Eyes in the Sky: How to Quantify Your Life
China has a notorious (yet, contrary to the popular opinion, not quite deployed) system that combines total surveillance, AI-based facial recognition, and a complex system of social credit that looks like an episode of Black Mirror came to life. Still, as frightening as it seems, is this system actually that scary? Or is it worse …