CIVIL LIABILITY IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN THEORIES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54934/ijlcw.v5i1.188

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Civil Liability, Collective Compensation, Electronic Personhood, Hybrid Liability, Inteligencia Artificial, responsabilidad civil, indemnización colectiva, personalidad electrónica, responsabilidad híbrida, 人工智能, 民事责任, 集体赔偿, 电子人格, 混合责任

Abstract

The integration of AI into social structures has exposed fundamental shortcomings in traditional civil liability theories, which struggle to address autonomous action, opaque processes, and fragmented accountability across multiple stakeholders. This study adopts a doctrinal and comparative-analytical method to evaluate modern liability frameworks—including electronic personhood, collective compensation, and hybrid liability—against the limitations of conventional approaches. The findings indicate that dynamic legal personhood, vicarious liability for stakeholders, objective risk thresholds, and expert oversight mechanisms offer coherent pathways to address unclear causation and non-transparent algorithms. The primary contribution is a conditional-pluralism framework that balances victim protection, fair risk allocation, and technological progress, providing practical tools for managing AI-related disputes in an evolving legal landscape.

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LA RESPONSABILIDAD CIVIL EN LA ERA DE LA INTELIGENCIA ARTIFICIAL: DE LAS TEORÍAS TRADICIONALES A LAS MODERNAS

La integración de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en las estructuras sociales ha puesto de manifiesto deficiencias fundamentales en las teorías tradicionales de responsabilidad civil, las cuales presentan dificultades para abordar la actuación autónoma, los procesos opacos y la responsabilidad fragmentada entre múltiples partes interesadas. Este estudio emplea un método doctrinal y analítico-comparativo para evaluar los marcos modernos de responsabilidad —tales como la personalidad electrónica, la indemnización colectiva y la responsabilidad híbrida— frente a las limitaciones de los enfoques convencionales. Los resultados indican que la personalidad jurídica dinámica, la responsabilidad por actos de terceros (responsabilidad vicaria) atribuible a las partes interesadas, los umbrales de riesgo objetivo y los mecanismos de supervisión experta ofrecen vías coherentes para abordar la causalidad difusa y la falta de transparencia de los algoritmos. La principal contribución es un marco de pluralismo condicional que equilibra la protección de la víctima, la distribución equitativa del riesgo y el progreso tecnológico, proporcionando herramientas prácticas para gestionar los litigios relacionados con la IA en un panorama jurídico en constante evolución.

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人工智能代的民事任:从传统代理

人工智能融入社会结构,暴露了传统民事责任理论的根本缺陷,使其难以应对自主行为​​、不透明的运作过程以及涉及多方主体的责任分散问题。本研究采用法理分析与比较分析相结合的方法,针对传统责任模式的局限性,评估了包括“电子人格”、集体赔偿及混合责任在内的现代责任框架。研究结果表明,动态法律人格、利益相关者的替代责任、客观风险阈值以及专家监督机制,为解决因果关系不明和算法不透明问题提供了切实可行的路径。本研究的主要贡献在于构建了一个“有条件的多元主义”框架,该框架在受害者保护、公平的风险分担与技术进步之间实现了平衡,为在不断演变的法律环境中处理人工智能相关纠纷提供了实用工具。

Author Biographies

Abbas Mirshekari, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Dr. Abbas Mirshkari, born in 1985, is an accomplished scholar and an expert in the field of private law. He earned his doctoral degree from Tehran University in 2013 and currently serves as an associate professor at the Faculty of Law in Tehran University. Dr. Mirshkari holds the esteemed position of deputy in the private and Islamic law department at the University of Tehran. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he was an active participant in various scholarly activities. He was a key member of the scientific committee for the fourth national conference on the interpretation of Iranian citizenship rights, and also serves as a reviewer for both domestic and international legal research journals. Dr. Mirshkari's impressive research record reflects his expertise in various areas of law, including private law, civil liability law, contract law, civil registration law, comparative law, human rights, and Personal law. He has published over 50 scientific research articles and authored 7 research and practical books in these fields.

Jamshid Zargari, University of Applied Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

Jamshid Zargari was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1994. His passion for legal research is evident in his numerous published works, including books and articles, which demonstrate a steadfast commitment to advancing legal knowledge. As a dedicated member of the Iran Central Bar Association (ICBAR), he leverages his substantial experience as a practicing attorney and legal advisor. His contributions to the field extend to editorial roles, including serving as an editor for legal publications, and a reviewer for esteemed legal journals. Additionally, he shares his expertise as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Applied Science and Technology.

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Published

2026-07-30

How to Cite

Mirshekari, A., & Zargari, J. (2026). CIVIL LIABILITY IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN THEORIES. International Journal of Law in Changing World, 5(1), 123–144. https://doi.org/10.54934/ijlcw.v5i1.188