Title: Normative Challenges

Duration: 04/2021 – today

Research Area: Responsible AI

The research project concentrates on central Normative Challenges posed by the application of AI technologies in the social sphere. The focus is on both critical risks and potential benefits that the democratic discourse and its constitutional preconditions face in relation to the use of AI technologies in social communicative practice. In addition, the legal framework for the use of AI in public administration will be examined.

Aims

The use of AI by online platforms will be analyzed from a legal perspective. On this basis, regulatory responses can be formulated and current legislative projects – such as the Digital Services Act or the AI Act – can be monitored.

Regarding the use of AI by public administration – e.g., for communicating with citizens, preparing or making decisions, or enforcing the law – the aim is to identify possible fields of application and to work out the respective legal framework.

Problem

AI-based solutions are increasingly being used to cope with the sheer volume of user-generated content on online platforms. While AI can enhance the democratic discourse by structuring content and combating harmful speech more efficiently, private control and technical limitations lead to risks such as opacity, overblocking, and discrimination. This leads to complex legal conflicts, further complicated by the multitude of players and interests.

In the area of public administration, issues of fundamental rights and constitutional principles such as democracy and the rule of law arise, especially in the context of automated decision-making. A related question is how to legally address AI-specific issues. One example is the limited explainability of AI, which complicates judicial review and effective legal protection.

Outlook

An article by the project lead on “The Civil Service and Artificial Intelligence” with comparative references to European law and other national legal systems will soon be published as part of an international handbook on the civil service in Europe. Another publication is planned on the importance of the rule of law in the context of the use of AI by public administration. In addition, two PhD projects will be completed in the foreseeable future. One concerns the fundamental rights classification of online hate speech moderation with a special focus on the use of AI-related tools. The other focuses on the influence of social bots on public discourse.

Publications

• Stephanie Schiedermair: The Civil Service and Artificial Intelligence. In Karl-Peter Sommermann, Adam Krzywoń, Cristina Fraenkel-Haeberle (eds.), The Handbook of Civil Service in Europe (forthcoming).
• Stephanie Schiedermair, Johannes Weil: Zwischen Effizienz und Kontrollverlust: Der Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz durch die Verwaltung im Spiegel des Rechts. In Bundesamt für die Sicherheit der nuklearen Entsorgung (ed.): Quo Vadis Künstliche Intelligenz in der nuklearen Entsorgung?| 2023 (Link: https://www.base.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/BASE/DE/broschueren/bfe/ki-endlagersuche-broschuere.pdf).
• Stephanie Schiedermair, Johannes Weil: Online-Intermediäre als Träger der Meinungsfreiheit – Eine Betrachtung der deutschen, europäischen und amerikanischen Judikatur zum Content Management von Webplattformen. Die Öffentliche Verwaltung – Zeitschrift für Öffentliches Recht und Verwaltungswissenschaften| 08, 2022, April, 305-313.
• Amelie Röhling, Johannes Weil: „Marg bar Khamenei“: Art. 14(4) DSA in light of Iranian Online Protest. VerfBlog| 2023, February 10.17176/20230204-113045-0 (Link: https://verfassungsblog.de/marg-bar-khamenei).
• Amelie Röhling, Johannes Weil: Die Grenzen privater Normsetzung durch soziale Netzwerke: Zur Drittwirkung der Unionsgrundrechte bei Community Standards am Beispiel von Hate Speech. In Simon Schrör, Alexandra Keiner, Ferdinand Müller, and Pablo Schumacher (eds.): Entscheidungsträger im Internet| 2022, 151-180 10.5771/9783748934981-151 (Link: https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748934981-151).

Team

Lead

• Prof. Dr. Stephanie Schiedermair

Team Members

• Johannes Weil