Court Hearing Via Social Network – Has Europe Missed Its Chance?

Digitalisation is on everyone's lips. Parts of the judiciary – at least in some European countries – are hesitant. Austria introduced an electronic legal communication system for most Austrian courts decades ago. 

Claims, submissions, requests for enforcement, land registry or company registry applications can be filed electronically. Attorneys are generally obligated to use the electronic legal communication system.

The HMCTS launched a seven-year reform programme to modernise the courts system in England and Wales, which also aims to digitalise procedures. The reform is apparently struggling due to budget and timescale issues. Meanwhile, China introduced "cyberspace courts" in Hangzhou in 2017 and in Beijing and Guangzhou in 2018, where the whole proceedings, even hearings, are conducted online. A mobile court is offered on the social media platform WeChat.