China is encouraging digitisation to streamline case-handling within its sprawling court system using cyberspace and cutting-edge technology including AI, blockchain and cloud computing, China’s Supreme People’s Court has revealed. The efforts include a “mobile court” offered on popular social media platform WeChat with three million legal cases or other judicial procedures already handled since its launch in March.
The paper was released this week as judicial authorities provided journalists a peek inside the country’s first “cyber court”.
The court was established in 2017 in the eastern city of Hangzhou to deal with legal disputes with a digital aspect.
In a demonstration, authorities revealed how the Hangzhou Internet Court operates, featuring an online interface with litigants appearing by video chat as an AI judge – complete with on-screen avatar – prompts them to present their cases.
A black-robed virtual judge sitting under China’s national emblem was heard asking in a pre-trial meeting: ”Does the defendant have any objection to the nature of the judicial blockchain evidence submitted by the plaintiff?”
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The digitisation push is an attempt to help courts keep pace with a growing caseload created by mobile payments and e-commerce in China.
The country currently has the world’s largest number of mobile internet users, estimated to be 850million.
Hangzhou Internet Court Vice President Ni Defeng told AFP: “(Concluding cases) at a faster speed is a kind of justice, because justice delayed is justice denied.”
Mr Ni added the use of blockchain technology was particularly useful, helping to streamline and create clearer records of the legal process.
Since the Hangzhou court’s establishment, China has set up similar chambers in Beijing and the southern metropolis of Guangzhou.
Together, they have accepted a total of 118,764 cases, and concluded 88,401, the Supreme People’s Court revealed.
The “mobile court” option on WeChat, China’s leading social-media messaging platform, encourages users to complete case filings, hearings and evidence exchange without physically appearing in court.
The concept has now been launched in 12 provinces and regions.
