Digital Trade Regulation / First Global AI Survey / Use of M365 by public bodies

Dear readers,

Just before the holidays, we have some extremely stimulating reading at the interface of law and IT.

The regulatory landscape of digital commerce has changed profoundly over the past ten years. Mira Burri analyzes the role of Switzerland in particular and examines its existing network of free trade agreements as well as the growing number of provisions relevant to the regulation of the digital economy.

Under the editorship of Michał Jackowski and Michał Araszkiewicz, a groundbreaking study on the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice has been published in the Liquid Legal Institute White Paper series. Over 200 international law firms were surveyed and the study was supplemented by the assessments of 25 researchers in the field of AI and law.

How can public bodies in Switzerland use cloud services (in particular M365) in compliance with fundamental rights and data protection? In their report, Markus Schefer and Philip Glass examine this question using the example of the Canton of Zurich.

Looking back, the legal and IT year 2023 was dominated by one topic in particular: Generative AI. Over a dozen webinars were held as part of our series "ChatGPT & Co. und die Rechtswelt". You can watch them free of charge in the archive. The topic of Metaverse has also been on our agenda (archive). You can now find the central meeting point for providers, service providers and interested parties on our LegalTech Hub.

Plenty of "food for thought" for the holidays. We wish you an enjoyable read and will be reporting back from the International Legal Informatics Symposium (IRIS) in Salzburg in February.

Philip Hanke
Publishing Director

International Relations
Switzerland in the Global Landscape of Digital Trade Regulation
Mira Burri
Mira Burri
While the landscape of digital trade regulation has changed profoundly in the last decade, Switzerland has not been a proactive actor in this ever more important domain of international economic law. The article sheds light on this mismatch. It first traces the evolution of global digital trade rulemaking and outlines the positioning of major players. The article turns then to Switzerland and examines its extant network of FTAs and the provisions pertinent to the regulation of the digital economy, which are still few, albeit on the rise. The article concludes with some recommendations on the paths forward for Swiss external trade policy and its needed update to suit the demands of a global data-dependent economy and to adequately reflect Swiss economic and societal interests.
Artificial intelligence
First Global Report on the State of Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice
Michał Jackowski
Michał Jackowski
Michał Araszkiewicz
Michał Araszkiewicz
The "First Global Report on the State of Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice" is a seminal work for those at the law and technology nexus. It bridges legal practitioners and AI academics, offering insights from over 200 global law firms. This report allows legal professionals to benchmark their AI usage, showcasing diverse applications and integration levels. Featuring perspectives from 25 top AI and law researchers, it aligns academic theory with practical legal needs, providing a valuable understanding of AI's implications in law. Ideal for tech-savvy legal practitioners, those seeking deeper tech integration, and legal tech researchers, this report caters to a varied audience. It guides readers through AI's complexities in legal practice and highlights the legal industry's needs for AI researchers. This publication demystifies AI for legal professionals and is a critical resource for advancing AI in legal practice, offering a rich, insightful view of law and AI's evolving relationship.
Cloud Computing
Der grundrechtskonforme Einsatz von M365 durch öffentliche Organe in der Schweiz
Markus Schefer
Markus Schefer
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Die vorliegende Publikation untersucht die grundrechts- und datenschutzkonforme Nutzung von Cloud-Diensten (insbes. M365) durch öffentliche Organe in der Schweiz, dargestellt am Beispiel des Kantons Zürich. Sie analysiert die verfassungsrechtliche Garantie der informationellen Selbstbestimmung nach Art. 13 Abs. 2 BV und skizziert insbesondere deren Entwicklung über die letzten gut 30 Jahre. Dadurch lassen sich das Schutzobjekt der Persönlichkeit sowie die Schutzbereiche der verschiedenen Aspekte von Art. 13 Abs. 2 BV herausarbeiten. In einem weiteren Schritt wird die Eingriffsdogmatik des Datenschutzrechts rekonstruiert. Ziel dabei ist eine differenzierte Erfassung der mit der cloudbasierten Bearbeitung von Personendaten verbundenen Eingriffsmomente, welche die Beurteilung von datenschutzrechtlichen Fragen in der Praxis widerspiegelt und verfassungsrechtlich aufschlüsselt.