Towards a Critique of Algorithmic Reason. A State-of-the-Art Review of Artificial Intelligence, Its Influence on Politics and Its Regulation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, combined with social media and Big Data technology, allow for highly personalised forms of political and commercial advertising. In the public sphere, computational propaganda is emerging as a techno-cultural change that jeopardises the freedom of citizens in their political choice, resulting in debate regarding the public regulation of AI to arbitrate such conflicts. In 2017, the European Parliament proposed the creation of a legal personality for robots. The problem is that personality, both in law and philosophy, is based on responsibility, an anthropocentric concept that has always referred to human action. However, we must accept the existence of algorithmic reason, created by human reason but independent of it, which now influences the conditions both of politics and social harmony. That’s why theoretical reflection is essential, especially in terms of ethics and their relation to technology and the law. Because not regulating AI condemns us to leaving citizens undefended and, ultimately, to technological determinism.