Small Claims Tribunals roll out AI-powered translation service for users

Consumers and merchants resolving disputes at the Small Claims Tribunals can now opt for documents submitted by the other party to be translated into Chinese, Malay or Tamil using artificial intelligence (AI).

In Singapore, documents submitted in court must be in English.

The translation service is the first initiative launched through a collaboration between the Singapore courts and American legal start-up Harvey aimed at developing a generative AI program for users of the tribunals.

Highlighting the initiative on April 16, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said efforts to enhance access to justice in the context of small claims are especially important because the justice gap in these kinds of cases may be the widest.

These disputes are often legally straightforward, yet the parties involved may be prevented from accessing justice because of practical obstacles that stand in their way of asserting or defending their rights, said the Chief Justice.

“Innovative solutions that harness the power of new technologies can go a long way towards bridging the gap, and can do so in ways and at a scale that would not be possible if we were to rely on human industry alone,” he said.

Chief Justice Menon was speaking at a symposium held at the State Courts to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Small Claims Tribunals.

A commemorative publication tracing the evolution of the tribunals was also launched at the event.

In addition, the tribunals and the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve support for vulnerable consumers who need help in filing claims.

In a media statement, Case said that with the MOU, its officers may represent consumers in hearings at the Small Claims Tribunals, ensuring that those who face challenges in presenting their own case have an effective means of pursuing dispute resolution. 

Case president Melvin Yong said: “As the courts adopt greater digitalisation, some consumers, such as the elderly, find it difficult to navigate these online systems.”

He said he was glad that the partnership would allow Case to directly represent such consumers in filing their claims.

In his speech, Chief Justice Menon traced how the Small Claims Tribunals evolved over the past four decades into an effective forum for resolving small claims.

The tribunals were introduced in 1985 as an avenue for consumers to seek redress for small-value disputes against errant merchants in a less formal and inexpensive forum.

Over time, the type and the value of cases have expanded.

The maximum value of the claims has increased from $2,000 to $20,000.

The tribunals’ jurisdiction has also expanded to cover disputes over residential leases of up to two years and property damage as a result of renovation works.

The Chief Justice noted that despite these changes, filing fees have remained largely unchanged – individuals can file claims for up to $5,000 by paying a flat fee of $10.

​In 2017, an online filing and case management platform was launched, making it more accessible for users of various State Courts tribunals to file and manage documents.

On the collaboration with Harvey, Chief Justice Menon said that over time, AI-driven tools may also be able to help claimants file their claims, understand what evidence they need to produce, and present their cases.

In September 2023, it was announced that the Singapore courts partnered with Harvey to develop a generative AI program that can potentially guide parties in small claims cases in filing their case, drafting documents and collating evidence.

He noted that the increasing number of cases filed demonstrates the immense contributions of the Small Claims Tribunals in delivering justice to the community.

The annual caseload for 2024 was 11,771, compared with 10,288 cases in 2023 and 9,113 in the year before.

The Chief Justice said that the ease of generating, storing and sharing data has resulted in copious amounts of documentary evidence being presented to the tribunals.

He suggested that measures may need to be explored to ensure that the volume of material the tribunals handle does not become disproportionate to the complexity of the dispute.

Chief Justice Menon also noted that some users engage in unreasonable and even abusive behaviour, but he did not elaborate on the nature of the behaviour.

He said it may be necessary to consider steps that could be taken to protect judges and officers of the tribunals while maintaining the informality of the proceedings.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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