The Impact of Digitalization on the Transformation of Slovenian Administrative Procedures: An Analysis of the Integration of Automated Decision-Making and Artificial Intelligence
This master's thesis examines the impact of digitalization on administrative procedures, with a focus on the use of automated decision-making (ADM) and artificial intelligence (AI). It first presents the legal framework for digitalization at the EU level, then explores the extent to which this framework, along with the fundamental principles of the Slovenian Act on General Administrative Procedure (ZUP), poses challenges and opportunities for the digitalization of administrative procedures in Slovenia. Through an analysis of the legal, technical, and procedural challenges these technologies present at various stages of the administrative process, the thesis highlights potential benefits for efficiency and transparency while addressing concerns regarding the protection of the rights of parties in administrative proceedings, particularly in terms of data protection.
Digitalization can significantly contribute to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness in administrative procedures, but it also introduces challenges related to the protection of parties' rights, especially in stages or procedures that require discretionary decision-making by administrative authorities or integration of an ethical component (e.g., social procedures). The findings indicate that the implementation of digital tools is most straightforward in the initial stages of procedures, such as data collection, while the decision-making phase requires more rigorous legal control. The study also highlights the need for more precise legal oversight of the use of these technologies and further research to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability of administrative authorities as data controllers.
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