Legislation new laws: Is technology running away from the law?

THE LEGAL SYSTEM has always had trouble keeping pace with technology. The introduction of motor vehicles, first in the form of steam engines and then with the petrol engine, shows how politicians can veer from one extreme to another as the market develops. First subject to stringent controls, the trend moved to liberalisation that then led to horrifying accidents and a subsequent tightening. In a world where artificial intelligence, space exploration and biotechnology are all moving quickly, it seems obvious that governments should look hard at what current laws allow and what loopholes have emerged. And though some of the possible new laws seem obvious, there is ready potential for mistakes.