Recently UNESCO, The Future Society (TFS), the National Judicial College (NJC), CETIC.br | Nic.br and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) launched the world’s first global Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on AI and the Rule of Law.

The free course on AI and the rule of law, available in seven languages, features 20 speakers from around the world, including sitting judges from Supreme Courts and Human Right Courts, legal experts and technology experts. 

It features use cases and best practices from all over the world, including India, Brazil, Senegal, and Kenya. The course addresses two main issues:

• First, how judiciaries can use AI in their administrative work to strengthen access to justice and improve administrative processes
• Secondly, how judiciaries can address issues of bias and discrimination in the use of AI, and the legal challenges it poses.

 “The free flow of information and knowledge is key to realise UNESCO's mandate of building inclusive knowledge societies. Within the framework of UNESCO's Judges Initiative, we are therefore proud to kick-off our MOOC on AI and the Rule Law,” said Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General, Communication and Information, UNESCO.

“The course is part of UNESCO’s Global Judges Initiative, which has trained over 23,000 judicial operators in 150 countries on issues related to freedom of expression, access to information and safety of journalists,” he added.

The six modules of the course include:

• An Introduction to Why Digital Transformation and AI Matter for Justice Systems
• AI Adoption Across Justice Systems
• The Rise of Online Courts
• Algorithmic Bias and its Implications for Judicial Decision Making
• Safeguarding Human Rights in the Age of AI
• AI Ethics & Governance Concerning Judicial Operators

A certificate of completion will be awarded to all participants after they have completed all modules. One can register for the course here.

As per UNESCO, in the survey of 1265 judicial operators in 100 countries, 85% expressed interest in learning about the working of AI systems, the use of AI tools in legal systems including in the administration of justice, civil and criminal litigation and investigations and law enforcement.