Development of the Justo Bolívar Cognitive Chatbot: Construction of a Technological Tool to Overcome Barriers to Access to Justice in the Department of Bolívar

Abstract

      In the department of Bolívar, Colombia, social, territorial, and digital barriers severely limit access to justice, particularly in rural communities and among vulnerable populations. The lack of legal guidance, compounded by the digital divide, prevents citizens from effectively managing their legal needs, especially in cases of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). To define the conceptual, technical, ethical, and regulatory foundations that the cognitive chatbot Justo Bolívar must meet for its coordinated implementation across all municipalities of the department of Bolívar, and to design a phased action plan guiding its development, validation, and territorial deployment, in alignment with the National Digital Transformation Policy, the guidelines of the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) regarding personal data processing in artificial intelligence systems, and existing literature on access to justice and digital justice. A qualitative documentary study was conducted, comprising a systematic review of scientific literature on legal chatbots and access to justice, analysis of recent institutional reports and regulatory frameworks on data protection in AI systems, with particular attention to Circular 002 of 2024 issued by the SIC and the comparative experience of the Universidad del Rosario legal chatbot project. Results: The research demonstrated that a legal chatbot can provide immediate and accessible legal guidance while incorporating privacy by design principles and comprehensive risk assessment to protect user data. The analysis of regulatory frameworks confirmed that AI-based legal tools must comply with data protection obligations, including privacy impact assessments for high-risk systems. A cognitive chatbot could significantly contribute to reducing barriers to access to justice in Bolívar if articulated with connectivity policies, digital literacy programs, and strict regulatory compliance. Technological innovation must be accompanied by an ethical approach, robust data protection culture, and a humanistic framework to achieve inclusive and sustainable digital justice.