Hamyar Jahed Specialized Cultural Publications and In collaboration with the Iranian Scientific Society of Criminology

Redefining Criminal Liability in Light of Artificial Intelligence

Document Type : Original Article

Author

PhD in Criminal Law and Criminology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Undoubtedly, the development of technology, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), which is a broad branch of computer science, has had a huge impact on human behavior and has led researchers to participate in this important field to respond to legal problems caused by crimes. The question is: does the robotic programmer or AI take criminal responsibility for AI? Or does AI have an independent legal personality on which criminal liability depends? The question remains unclear about the expected criminal punishment that fits this new AI legal figure. We also examine the criminal responsibility of the manufacturer, programmer, user and designer for the work of artificial intelligence and robotics, and try to examine the legal framework for regulating the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (robots) as follows: the normal laws of the use of artificial intelligence, and the criminal responsibility for the actions of artificial intelligence. This is intended to provide a new theory in relation to the criminal liability of AI in relation to the granting of electronic legal personality to AI to burden criminal liability for its actions, which is outside the scope of responsibility of the developer and programmer and the user and owner of these intelligent systems. It is based on the analytical – descriptive and library method to examine the issue of redefining criminal liability in the light of artificial intelligence. The research results show that studies and topics related to determining criminal liability for AI actions cover practical applications and the most important legal problems that arise according to the legal personality and criminal liability of AI.

Keywords



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 July 2026

  • Receive Date 22 November 2025
  • Accept Date 11 July 2026