«A New Language for a New Law»: Machine Reading of Law in the Context of Semiotic Paradigm

Abstract

. The paper deals with issues related to machine reading of law, as well as sign systems and signs as a material that describes (characterizes) the object of machine reading. The author’s approach to the process of machine reading of law, its object and subject is proposed. A model for ensuring machine readability in the semiotic paradigm and options for possible strategies for ensuring machine readability are presented. It is concluded that the characteristics of the object of machine reading should be found in the topic of sign diversity, which most fully reflects reality as such in general and legal reality in particular. The processes of global digital transformation, digital transformation of the legal sphere and the need to reform the rule-making (legislative) process make the issues of semiotics of law more relevant, and the corresponding methods more in demand. The advantages and risks of choosing the tactics of «digital rule-making» are considered, developing on the basis of two approaches: «from the model» (formation of regulatory legal acts based on digital models) and «from paper» (transformation of classical paper legislation into rules suitable for both human and human use and the machine). The author substantiates that it is necessary to develop a model of machine reading process applying «from the model» and «from the paper» approaches in various variations and using the appropriate analytical apparatus that allows describing the big picture of the risks of semantic loss of normative material, as well as calculating the degree of such. It is concluded that the core of the problem of machine reading of law is not in the field of selection of technical methods and tools for the implementation of machine reading, not in the use of signs of various sign systems, but in the sphere of resolving key issues of legal understanding. According to the author, when developing machine reading technologies, it is necessary to overcome the one-sided view of law, and the approaches of integrative jurisprudence should be used more actively.