Narratives, Frontier Technologies & the Law
The swift and profound advancement of technology in the contemporary world poses distinctive challenges for the law, especially in the realm of frontier technologies. These technologies encompass robotics, the internet of things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, genomics, and augmented/virtual reality, and their rapid development presents unprecedented opportunities and risks.
While crucial for addressing global challenges (climate change, e.g.), these technologies also carry the potential to exacerbate inequality and disrupt societal norms. Ethical and social considerations in regulating technology often clash with prevailing narratives, influenced by culture, society, religion, mass media, and the law.
Narratives such as the belief in technological progress shaping a better future can overshadow potential risks. Similarly, the notion that technology is neutral and its use depends solely on humans overlooks the inherent biases in its design. These narratives influence perspectives on technology regulation, with supporters of progress narratives often advocating for deregulation, while those concerned about risks lean towards stricter oversight.
The deadline submission of one-page paper proposal has passed since 28 Feb 2024 (23.59h. CET)
Full papers for accepted proposals are to be delivered by 31 July 2024 to allow for a pre-read conference. The conference will likely be held in a hybrid format at Maastricht University, Faculty of Law, in Sept/Oct 2024. The hybrid format will enable online participation.
The pre-read format allows for a more focused and engaging discussion during the presentations, which should be limited to 15 minutes to allow for 30 or more minutes of discussion. Publication in the Law, Technology and Humans journal is slotted for April 2025.
Faculty of Law
Institute for Globalisation and International Regulation (IGIR), Globalization and Law Network (GLaw-Net), the Maastricht Law & Tech Lab, and the Maastricht Institute for Law and Jurisprudence (MILJ)
For any inquiries and correspondences, the main correspondent is Syamsuriatina binti Ishak with CC to Dr. Henrique Marcos
Contact for website and conference: Law Events Office, Chantal Meertens
Add to calendarTimeline
The suggested timeline is as follows:
Date | Activity |
28 Feb 2024 | Deadline for submitting one-page paper proposal |
30 Apr 2024 | Confirmation of acceptance of a proposal |
31 Jul 2024 | Deadline for submitting a full paper for the conference |
30 &31 Oct 2024 | ‘Narratives, Frontier Technologies & The Law’ Conference – presentation & workshop of papers |
Nov 2024 | Deadline for submitting finalised papers for publication |
Dec 2024 – Mar 2025 | Papers undergo peer review and editing |
Apr 2025 | Publication in Symposium edition of ‘Law, Technology and Humans’ |
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