New and emerging technologies – such as autonomous,
self-learning and artificially intelligent products, advanced
robotics and the Internet of Things – are an increasing
feature across a variety of sectors, including transport,
healthcare, agriculture, IT, data management and communications.
Such technologies offer a range of societal and economic benefits,
from prevention of human error and failure, and improved safety, to
increased productivity and economic growth. Although the existing
EU and Irish product liability rules, which have been in place for
many decades, have proven themselves reasonably flexible in
adapting to the legal challenges faced by technological
advancements in the preand early-digital age, new and emerging
technologies present novel and more complex legal challenges. These
new and emerging technologies raise a series of fundamental
questions. Who is, and who should be, liable when they cause harm?
Can the existing product liability rules be
