In 2021, IE University Law School envisioned a new platform for cutting-edge research, teaching, training and dissemination on the impact of automation on the law and society as whole. In 2022, the IE “Lawtomation” Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence was established to convene scholars from various disciplines to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by technological advancements across numerous legal domains and sectors.
The inception phase of the Centre culminated in the organization of the first edition of the IE “Lawtomation Days” in September 2022. More than one hundred researchers, practitioners and students joined us in Madrid to ignite a scholarly yet accessible conversation on the relationship between law and automation, as well as the effects of algorithms on constitutional values, human rights, workplace practices and legal remedies. In 2023, the second conference edition hosted an even larger group of speakers presenting their works on the promises and perils of automated decision-making (ADM) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Much change has happened in recent years. Large segments of today’s society are automated, at least in part, raising the need for further cross-disciplinary discussions. Hence, we are delighted to announce the third edition of the “Lawtomation Days” conference.
Computing the law, regulating the algorithm:
the transformative power of digital ecosystems
This year, we aim to ideally “square the circle”. The key theme of the conference is the transformative power of digital ecosystems. We want to explore how technological advancements can be harnessed to create more sustainable, inclusive and ethically grounded environments. The quest for deeper analyses should prompt participants to engage in cross-disciplinary research, in line with the spirit of our Centre. Thus, we invite scholars to explore connections between different fields and methodologies to foster a holistic understanding of the issues at hand, and possibly challenge prevailing narratives. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a space for thought-provoking research that can drive forward the research agenda.
On the one hand, the conference intends to explore how law can pursue the goal of automation in fields such as consumer law, criminal law, labour law, public law, private law and trade law. On the other, it aims to provide a constructive assessment of the multiple regulatory and legislative initiatives adopted to govern the digital world, including instances of institutional activism such as the AI Act, the DMA, the DSA, the Data Act, the AI Liability and Product Liability Directives, the Data Governance Act and the Platform Work Directive.
Ultimately, this conference edition aims to inject a much-needed dose of realism into a world grappling with contrasting attitudes—hype and alarmism—to shed light on the effectiveness, pitfalls and potential areas for improvement in existing legal instruments. From a methodological standpoint, we emphasize critical approaches to broaden the discourse and incorporate perspectives often overlooked. We invite proposals that not only provide insights into recent developments but also critically engage with policy, legal, judicial and business advancements. We encourage contributions that explore the impacts of automation on democracy and the rule of law, fundamental rights, the environment and markets.
Over the past years, participants have identified the “Lawtomation Days” as a flagship initiative in the academic community for the quality of contributions, harmony of the environment and richness of the connections. The two-day conference will feature inspiring keynote speeches and panel discussions, as well as ample opportunities for networking and exchange across disciplines and generations, including during social events.
