Research Workshop on AI, Equality and the Law Event

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2026-04-15 00:00:00

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Event details

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have rapidly become embedded across a wide range of social, economic and political contexts. These systems are increasingly relied upon to help make decisions that have far-reaching impacts on individuals and communities. This includes predictive algorithms used in policing and healthcare, to the automation of immigration welfare systems, and governance of workplaces through algorithmic management systems. In addition to supposed efficiency and productivity gains, these tools are sometimes claimed to help identify and eradicate bias and inequality. Often, however, they have the effect of replicating and even exacerbating social inequalities. Against this background, the Research Centre for Law and Technology and Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law at the University of Southampton invite critical reflections on the equality impacts of AI, alongside assessments of current and emerging legal and regulatory responses to address these harms.  This one-day workshop will bring together scholars and practitioners from across disciplines to interrogate algorithmic biases and consider frameworks and strategies to build more inclusive, rights-based, and participatory AI systems.

Call for Abstracts:

Themes and questions

We welcome submissions that engage with the broad theme of AI, Equality and the Law. Papers may address, but need not be limited to, the following themes and questions:

Women, Equality and AI:

- feminist perspectives on AI ethics and governance; gendered impacts of AI in the context of reproductive health, domestic work, or caregiving.

Labour market inequality and AI:

- the distributive impacts of workplace AI; the regulation of platform work and algorithmic management; algorithms and the right to equal pay for equal work.

AI as a solution to inequality:

- applying AI to achieve equality through accountability, transparency, and explainability in AI systems.

AI and discrimination:

- AI and its relationship to any form of discrimination.

- intersectionality and AI.

- de-colonial approaches to AI governance and accountability.

- racialised impacts and uses of AI.

- challenges and opportunities of AI for securing disability justice.

Submission Guidelines

- The organising committee invites abstract submissions (max 500 words) to scclaw@soton.ac.uk

- The deadline for submission is 5th Jan 2026.

- Acceptance decisions will be communicated by the end of January.

Further information

- There is no fee for attending the workshop. Limited travel and accommodation expenses may be available for participants who lack access to institutional funds.

- For any queries, please contact the Conference Organizing Committee at scclaw@soton.ac.uk