‘Smart Courts’ in China and the Future of Personal Injury Litigation

Abstract

While technology is playing an increasingly important role in courtrooms around the world, Chinese courts are adopting and experimenting with deep technologies at a much faster pace and on a greater scale than their counterparts in most other countries. In recent years, Chinese courts have seen major developments in online dispute resolution platforms, specialized Internet courts, and the wide use of AI tools across case management, dispute resolution and adjudication processes in personal injury claims. Other novel technologies such as distributed ledgers, blockchain and smart contracts solutions are currently being developed and rolled out in several local and specialised courts. The Chinese leadership has established a policy framework of “Smart Courts” with the aims of enhancing judicial efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness. This article provides an overview of how Chinese courts have swiftly embraced the adoption of new technologies under this framework over the past few years, with consideration of how Smart Courts may handle personal injury claims.