Algorithmic Decision-Making Systems and Legal Responsibility: Reconstructing Fault, Agency, and Accountability in the Digital Age

Abstract In the digital age, algorithmic decision-making systems have become central actors in shaping legal, economic, and social outcomes. From credit scoring and insurance risk assessments to welfare allocation, content moderation, and predictive policing, algorithmic systems increasingly determine individuals’ access to rights, resources, and visibility. This transformation poses a fundamental challenge to classical legal concepts such as agency, fault, responsibility, and accountability, which are traditionally grounded in human intention and consciousness. While legal doctrine presumes a human decision-maker capable of intent, negligence, and moral judgment, algorithmic systems operate through opaque, data-driven processes that defy these assumptions. This article examines the …