Artificial Constitutionalism?
Large language models (LLMs) are rapidly becoming embedded in everyday life, serving functions that range from professional assistance to entertainment and even emotional support. As their popularity and adoption grow, so do the legal questions surrounding their use – especially when interactions with individuals result in harm. A crucial threshold issue in establishing the legal framework applicable to LLMs, including the responsibilities of their developers, is whether their outputs – often resembling human expression – can receive constitutional protection as “speech” The question is also key to determining the applicable legal regime, the liability of AI developers for such content, and its potential consequences for individuals.
Continue reading >>The Agonies of American Federalism
Understanding the Los Angeles Conflict in a Historical Frame
Continue reading >>Using Immigration Court as a Trap
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun apprehending noncitizens at immigration court – where individuals appear to seek humanitarian relief or defend against deportation – immediately after the government moves to dismiss their case. Immigrants and their attorneys are increasingly reporting that ICE, in coordination with government lawyers, is detaining individuals as they exit court following such dismissals. Rather than providing a reprieve, dismissal is now being used to facilitate detention and potentially summary deportation, raising serious concerns about due process and adherence to governing statutes in the United States.
Continue reading >>Greenforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
The current practice of enforcement of intellectual property rights impacts the environment in many ways. There is increasing recognition of the pressing need for more human and environmentally friendly alternative remedies, such as donating goods to charity, removing infringing signs or parts, or disposing of the goods outside the EEA/EU. The question is whether and to what extent the legal framework leaves room for ecologically sustainable alternatives to disposing of and destroying IPR-infringing goods.
Continue reading >>Big Tech Antitrust Scrutiny Across the Atlantic
As Europeans await the European Commission’s enforcement of new tech rules, recent developments in the U.S. remind us that Big Tech scrutiny has been a transatlantic concern. On April 14, 2025, a trial began at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is challenging Meta’s acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram under U.S. antitrust laws. This landmark case raises novel legal issues about mergers that were previously cleared a decade ago and highlights U.S. enforcers’ continued efforts to curb Big Tech power.
Continue reading >>„Die mit den Waffen hungern zuletzt“
Fünf Fragen an Tom Dannenbaum
Continue reading >>International Law Under Pressure
In this blog post, we document and analyse the numerous apparent breaches of international law that have occurred within the first six weeks of the 2025 Trump administration. What began as an informal discussion at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law has evolved into this analytical overview. We believe this documentation serves both academic purposes and potentially supports future legal proceedings. While defenders of these actions will undoubtedly offer justifications for what we identify as clear breaches of international law, our analysis aims to provide an assessment based on established international legal principles.
Continue reading >>Wenn das Recht versagt, folgt der Krieg
Über eine einfache, aber grundlegende Forderung.
Continue reading >>In Search of Honour
There is a presumption underlying the liberal democratic constitutional project that has been exposed by the Trump administration in its first weeks in office – that formal constitutional structures are all we need to protect against bad political actors. But our entire constitutional system hinges on the very basic idea of people in positions of power doing the right thing. Therefore, I will argue that the behavioural chink in the constitutional chain that needs to be re-discovered is honour. Honour possesses the cultural potency, political currency, and psychological impetuous we need to turn the tide on illiberalism.
Continue reading >>The Messiah and His Oligarchs
On Power, Personalities and Populism.
Continue reading >>The right lessons from Trump 1.0
The US withdrawal from international institutions is a broader trend, not solely tied to Trump-era policies. Consequently, European governments that aim to preserve the rules-based international order should be prepared to take the lead and fill the gap left by the US exit. To pursue this strategy effectively, certain imperatives must be addressed.
Continue reading >>Auf Messers Schneide
Wir starten unsere Reihe zu den US Wahlen 2024
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