LEXplain

LEXplain will investigate the possibilities and limitations of using artificial intelligence to make legal decisions in public administration. 

The latest artificial intelligence technologies are based on large language models built through machine learning. Their mode of operation is therefore not fully comprehensible to either ordinary users or experts. This creates a problem in relation to the duty of justification that public authorities must comply with when they make decisions about citizens' rights and duties.

The justification requirement must ensure that the citizen can understand the decision. At the same time, the justification requirement is a way to ensure the quality and legitimacy of public decision making. The justification requirement entails that administrative authorities must make an effort to inform and understand the citizen's situation in order to be able to apply the legal rules correctly and give the citizen certainty about this.

If the technology used in the case processing does not support the justification requirement, it cannot be used in a manner that is satisfactory under the rule of law. 

LEXplain investigates how AI technology can be adapted to case processing and decision making in a way that ensures compliance with the legal obligation to provide justificatory reasons.

The project is funded by the Norwegian Research-council, and is a collaboration between lawyers and computer scientists from the University of Bergen and the University of Copenhagen. The project also involves collaboration with tax and social authorities in both Norway and Denmark.

About LEXplain