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Speaking of transparency in digital procurement processes ...
cc: @biancawylie, @JacquesGallant https://twitter.com/Advocates_Soc/status/1288536130464301056
cc: @biancawylie, @JacquesGallant https://twitter.com/Advocates_Soc/status/1288536130464301056
So, I'm digging into @CaseLines, and thought it might be useful to #lawtwitter to post what I learn, and some immediate questions & thoughts for @ONAttorneyGen, @SCJOntario_en
I'll preface by saying, this is a long-overdue development in the modernization of our courts, but it also feels like there was a lack of transparency in the procurement process.
Urgent times, don't mean we stop deconstructing game-changing decisions.
Urgent times, don't mean we stop deconstructing game-changing decisions.
Without knowing almost anything about CaseLines, it's encouraging that many other common law jurisdictions are using it with positive feedback from @JudiciaryUK
Ontario lawyers have been begging for a "PACER" like system for ages.
Ontario lawyers have been begging for a "PACER" like system for ages.
But, as I've talked about here: https://medium.com/@philipholdsworth/virtual-law-in-a-post-covid-19-era-will-justice-thrive-in-a-zoom-future-d640a1743e91
Digital platform technology introduces new layers of technical complexity, and new concerns about accessibility, accountability, and privacy.
Not to mention, the longer-term possibility for judicial meta-analysis.
Digital platform technology introduces new layers of technical complexity, and new concerns about accessibility, accountability, and privacy.
Not to mention, the longer-term possibility for judicial meta-analysis.
Answering all those questions at once in a procurement decision is a lot, and not always possible, given technical limitations...
... but advocates for justice participants need to be raising the contextual questions.
... but advocates for justice participants need to be raising the contextual questions.
Especially when the decision appears to be made by the E-Hearing Task Force, and not a democratically convened body.
My initial questions:
- What are the licensing terms for the code-base?
- What is the feedback from self-represented litigants?
- How does CaseLines use AI?
My initial questions:
- What are the licensing terms for the code-base?
- What is the feedback from self-represented litigants?
- How does CaseLines use AI?
Let's start with the basics.
Here's CaseLines' website: https://caselines.com/
CaseLines runs on the @Microsoft #Azure platform, which presumably has its own set of licensing agreements, data transfer protocols etc.
Here's CaseLines' website: https://caselines.com/
CaseLines runs on the @Microsoft #Azure platform, which presumably has its own set of licensing agreements, data transfer protocols etc.
And here's the YouTube videos, showing how it works:
(International)
(UK)
(International)
(UK)
In the UK, they have an entire website explaining in PDFs, how to use the system.
This is helpful, but when will governments learn that video tutorials are the way of the future. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/crown-court-digital-case-system-training-guides-and-videos#quick-reference-guides
This is helpful, but when will governments learn that video tutorials are the way of the future. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/crown-court-digital-case-system-training-guides-and-videos#quick-reference-guides
We know that CaseLines uses AI to read the text of all the documents uploaded to its platform.
This 2018 piece from @legalitinsider talks about CaseLines patent a blockchain technology to support the platform. https://legaltechnology.com/blockchain-and-the-justice-system-caselines-applies-for-patent/
This 2018 piece from @legalitinsider talks about CaseLines patent a blockchain technology to support the platform. https://legaltechnology.com/blockchain-and-the-justice-system-caselines-applies-for-patent/
I mean, if litigants and firms are encoding evidence onto a blockchain that's not open-source from the outset, I have so many more questions ...
The justice platform is a tool built to scale human deliberation.
The justice platform is a tool built to scale human deliberation.
But in CaseLaw's marketing and PR, you can see the subtext of the siren call of AI, and automated decision making.
I'm not fighting our #AI future.
But the tech stack needs to be complemented by a democratic governance stack if we want accountability & transparency.
I'm not fighting our #AI future.
But the tech stack needs to be complemented by a democratic governance stack if we want accountability & transparency.
Automated redaction is just one thread in the trend to delegating human decision making to patented algorithms.
Fine, to scale this type of tech may be necessary.
But who audits the algorithms in the interest of justice participants? @mathbabedotorg https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caselines-announces-patent-application-for-differential-redaction-by-sub-bundle-301057959.html
Fine, to scale this type of tech may be necessary.
But who audits the algorithms in the interest of justice participants? @mathbabedotorg https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caselines-announces-patent-application-for-differential-redaction-by-sub-bundle-301057959.html
