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14 Indian J. L. & Tech. 1 (2018)

handle is hein.journals/indiajoula14 and id is 1 raw text is: 











LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: Two MODES

OF   DISRUPTION, THREE LEGAL MIND-

     SETS, AND THE BIG PICTURE OF

     REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES

                  Roger  Brownsword

   ABSTRACT        This article introduces three ideas that are
 central to understanding the ways in which law and legal thinking
 are disrupted by emerging technologies and to maintaining a
 clear focus on the responsibilities of regulators. The first idea is
 that of a double disruption that technological innovation brings
 to the law. While the first disruption tells us that the old rules are
 no longer fit for purpose and need to be revised and renewed, the
 second tells us that, even if the rules have been changed, regulators
 might now be able to dispense with the use of rules (the rules are
 redundant) and rely instead on technological instruments.

 The second idea is that the double disruption leads to a three-
 way legal and regulatory mind-set that is divided between: (i)
 traditional concerns for coherence in the law; (ii) modern concerns
 with instrumental effectiveness; and (iii) a continuing concern
 with instrumental effectiveness and risk management but now
 focused on the possibility of employing technocratic solutions.
 The third idea is one of a hierarchy of regulatory responsibilities.
 Most importantly, regulators have a 'stewardship' responsibility
 for maintaining the 'commons'; then they have a responsibility
 to respect the fundamental values of a particular human social
 community;  and, finally, they have a responsibility to seek
 out an acceptable balance of legitimate interests within their
 community.

 Such disruptions notwithstanding, it is argued that those who
 have regulatory responsibilities need to be able to think through
 the regulatory noise to frame questions in the right way and to
 respond in ways that are rationally defensible and reasonable. In
 an age of smart machines and new possibilities for technological
 fixes, traditional institutional designs might need to be reviewed.

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