Ethical Artificial Intelligence for Access to Justice
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In the past decade, and especially with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, online dispute resolution (ODR) systems have grown rapidly, particularly in resolving consumer disputes arising from the e-commerce sector. These systems offer a cost-effective, faster, and convenient alternative to traditional court proceedings. However, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into ODR has raised significant ethical concerns, particularly around accessibility, accountability, and fairness.
The ETHOS project aims to address these concerns by exploring how AI can be used to create fairer, more accessible, and accountable ODR systems. As more legal processes turn digital, there is a risk that vulnerable socio-economic groups may be left without proper access to justice. This issue is crucial because the rise of AI in legal systems has the potential to make dispute resolution more efficient while ensuring fair treatment for all citizens. ETHOS focuses on closing the ethical gaps in AI-driven ODR systems, especially in Europe, by comparing to approaches in countries like the US and Canada.
The project funded by MSCA COFUND EUTOPIA-SIF and led by Dr. Seyedeh Sajedeh Salehi from Vrije Universiteit Brussel under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Katarina Zajc from the Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana brings together experts from law and computer science to understand how to design ethical AI-driven systems. The ETHOS team investigates existing ODR systems in various jurisdictions, particularly the US and Canada, to improve ethical standards in the EU. The project will provide practical guidelines for policymakers and ODR operators to ensure AI-based systems comply with ethical principles. To achieve this, the researchers will conduct expert interviews, case studies, and comparative analyses to develop a model for ethical ODR systems.
From a technical viewpoint, ETHOS focuses on three key ethical principles: accessibility, accountability, and fairness. Accessibility means ensuring that all citizens, regardless of gender, ethnicity, digital literacy, or socio-economic status, can use AI-driven ODR systems without facing barriers such as high costs or technical challenges. Accountability emphasizes that these systems should be transparent, with human oversight at all stages to detect and correct errors. Fairness ensures that AI systems treat everyone impartially and do not introduce bias into decision-making.
ETHOS aims to address the ethical gaps in AI-driven ODR systems and provide solutions to improve access to justice across the EU, aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which calls for equal access to justice for all. SDG 16 underscores the importance of removing barriers to access to justice as a critical step toward building peaceful and inclusive societies. This research will set new standards for the responsible use of AI in dispute resolution, paving the way for a more just and inclusive future for EU citizens.
