A Manifesto on Enforcing Law in the Age of ‘Artificial Intelligence’

• Published date: 01 January 2023
• Date: 01 January 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/eulj.12474

EPILOGUE

A Manifesto on Enforcing Law in the Age of

‘Artificial Intelligence’

Transatlantic Reflection Group on Democracy and the Rule of Law in the

Age of “Artificial Intelligence”

*

Abstract

Building upon A Manifesto In Defense of Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Age of ‘Artificial

Intelligence’, we, the Transatlantic Reflection Group on Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Age

of ‘Artificial Intelligence’, have reconvened to draft a second consensus manifesto that calls for the

effective and legitimate enforcement of laws concerning AI systems. In doing so, we recognise the

important and complementary role of standards and compliance practices. Whereas the first

manifesto focused on the relationship between democratic law-making and technology, this second

manifesto shifts focus from the design of law in the age of AI to the enforcement of law. Concretely,

we offer 10 recommendations for addressing the key enforcement challenges shared across transat-

lantic stakeholders. We call on those who support these recommendations to sign this manifesto.

The Fifth Edition of The Athens Roundtable on AI and the Rule of Law will take place on November

30th and December 1st, 2023. It will delve into pressing governance challenges posed by founda-

tion models and generative AI across jurisdictions.

1|BACKGROUND

‘Artificial intelligence’(AI) systems and data-driven business models are increasingly pervasive, affecting how we

work, buy, sell, communicate, meet, navigate and build relationships. In doing so, they impact our individual rights,

social relationships, the economy and politics, and pose new threats to democratic institutions and processes, indi-

vidual dignity, autonomy and human well-being.

While technological innovation can be a driver of economic prosperity, it can also propagate harm and negative

societal consequences, both deliberate and unintended. AI systems' intrinsically opaque behaviour and frequent use

to circumvent human agency pose direct threats to fair decision-making and democratic accountability. Thus, careful

consideration must be taken to determine when, where and how to deploy them, and to decide whether certain

* The Transatlantic Reflection Group on Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, supported by The Athens Roundtable on AI

and the Rule of Law (an initiative of The Future Society) and the Institute of Future and Innovation Studies (at John Cabot University, an American

university in Rome), are, in alphabetical order: Julie Cohen, Samuel Curtis, Nicolas Economou, Katherine Evans, Bruce Hedin, Niki Iliadis, Francesco

Lapenta, Nicolas Miailhe, Paul Nemitz, Denia Psarrou, Stefano Quintarelli, Marc Rotenberg, Sarah Spiekermann, Thomas Streinz and Wendell Wallach.

Received: 4 August 2023 Accepted: 4 September 2023

DOI: 10.1111/eulj.12474

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