The College of Law at the University of Baghdad discussed a dissertation entitled “Insurance Against the Harms of Artificial Intelligence: Self-Driving Cars as a Model,” submitted by the doctoral candidate Marzooq Maseer Raheel, in the Private Law Branch. The dissertation was discussed on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in the Conference Hall of the College.

The dissertation defense committee consisted of:

  1. Prof. Dr. Ali Fawzi Ibrahim — Chairman
  2. Prof. Dr. Akram Mohammed Hussein — Member
  3. Prof. Dr. Ali Mutashir Abdul-Sahib — Member
  4. Assist. Prof. Dr. Hadeel Saad Ahmed — Member
  5. Assist. Prof. Dr. Andalus Hamid Abdul — Member
  6. Prof. Dr. Haifa Mazhar Falahi — Member and Supervisor

The dissertation aimed to establish a clear conceptual and legal framework for artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles, distinguishing between the different levels of automation and examining the impact of each level on determining control, liability, and insurance. It also sought to clarify the legal nature of self-driving vehicles and analyze the suitability of various doctrinal and legislative approaches for their legal characterization.

The dissertation consisted of three chapters. Chapter One addressed the conceptual framework of artificial intelligence in self-driving vehicles. Chapter Two examined the challenges of insurance in the context of self-driving vehicles. Chapter Three focused on developing the legal framework governing insurance for self-driving vehicles.

The dissertation concluded with several recommendations, the most important of which are:

  1. Enactment of a modern Iraqi law entitled the “Compulsory Insurance against Motor Vehicle Accidents Law,” replacing the amended Compulsory Insurance against Motor Vehicle Accidents Law No. 52 of 1980. The new law should cover conventional, electric, connected, and self-driving vehicles, while linking the obligation to obtain insurance to the registration and licensing of the vehicle.
  2. Including precise functional definitions in the law for self-driving vehicles, automated driving systems, the operational design domain, the operator, the remote supervisor, the software developer, and critical software updates.

  3. Preventing insurers from invoking against injured parties any violation by the owner, user, or operator of the terms of the insurance policy, licensing requirements, or maintenance and software-update obligations. However, the insurer should retain the right of recourse after paying compensation where it establishes a causal relationship between the violation and the accident.

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