Regulating Algorithms – How to demystify the alchemy of code?

Algorithms have a profound and growing influence on our lives, but partially remain a black box to us. Keeping the risks that arise from rule-based and learning systems in check is a challenging task for both: society and the legal system. The essay undertakes the challenge to examine existing and adaptable legal solutions and to complement them with further proposals. It designs a regulatory model in four steps along the time axis: preventive regulation instruments, accompanying risk management, ex post facto protection and the vision of an algorithmic responsibility code. Together, they form a legislative blueprint to further regulate applications of artificial intelligence.