Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and the Transformation of Forensic Law in Cameroon

Abstract

Artificial intelligence and robotics are no longer features of science fiction. They are reshaping the way justice is investigated, prosecuted, and administered in legal systems around the world, including in Cameroon. This article examines that transformation through a critical and grounded lens, asking not merely what these technologies can do, but whether the law as it currently stands in Cameroon is ready to govern what they do. The article finds that Cameroon currently lacks dedicated legislation governing artificial intelligence and robotics in forensic or judicial contexts. This regulatory vacuum creates serious risks: evidence produced by AI systems lacks clear admissibility standards, liability for errors by autonomous systems is legally indeterminate, and protections for the rights of accused persons are inadequate in the face of automated decision-making. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and the concept of legal personhood for AI entities are examined as possible bridges between existing jurisprudence and emerging technological realities. The article concludes by proposing a multi-pronged governance pathway for Cameroon: the enactment of dedicated AI legislation with specific forensic provisions, the establishment of interdisciplinary regulatory bodies, the development of clear liability frameworks for autonomous systems, and the integration of ethical AI principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability into Cameroon’s legal culture.