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Project Overview

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in legal practice — from evidence analysis to risk assessment — courts and legal professionals face a pressing challenge: how to ensure that AI-supported decision-making is fair, lawful, transparent, and worthy of public trust, while safeguarding sensitive personal and legal data.

This funded research project (£20,000) examines how advanced cryptographic techniques can support the responsible deployment of AI in legally sensitive environments. The project explores how systems can be independently verified for fairness, compliance, and accountability without requiring disclosure of confidential data or proprietary algorithms.

Research Focus

The project centers on the application of zero-knowledge proofs, an emerging cryptographic method that enables a system to demonstrate that it meets specified standards — such as fairness criteria or regulatory compliance — without revealing the underlying data or internal processes.

By enabling verification without exposure, this approach has the potential to:

  • Support meaningful and independent oversight of AI systems
  • Protect privacy, confidentiality, and data protection obligations
  • Enhance transparency and public confidence in AI-supported decision-making
  • Strengthen governance mechanisms within courts and justice institutions

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Led by Dr Vimal Dwivedi, Associate Director of the Centre for Legal Technology (CLT) at Ulster University, the project brings together computer scientists, legal scholars, members of the judiciary, practitioners, policymakers, and industry partners from across the UK and Europe.

The CLT serves as the central hub, ensuring that technical research remains grounded in the operational realities of courts and justice systems. Through sustained engagement with legal professionals and public sector stakeholders, the project aims to translate complex cryptographic concepts into practical governance models, guidance frameworks, and policy-relevant evidence.

Planned Activities

Project activities include:

  • A multi-partner workshop hosted at Ulster University
  • International research exchanges with European collaborators
  • Development of early-stage guidance materials for judicial users, regulators, and technology providers

Strategic Impact

This project contributes to the development of trustworthy and responsible AI within the justice system, advancing approaches that balance innovation with legal accountability and public values. It further strengthens Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in legal technology research and reinforces Ulster University’s leadership in responsible AI innovation for complex, high-stakes environments.