UK develops a vastly criticsed crime prediction tool | bjarne-vijfvinkel-spzophuzd0M-unsplash
THE UK Ministry of Justice is developing a “chilling and dystopian” algorithm that uses arguably sensitive private data from innocent people, albeit a laudable attempt to create a “murder prediction” tool to identify individuals more likely to kill.
“The Ministry of Justice’s attempt to build this murder prediction system is the latest chilling and dystopian example of the government’s intent to develop so-called crime ‘prediction’ systems,” said Sofia Lyall, a Statewatch researcher.
Pressure group Statewatch discovered the project’s existence and some of its workings through documents obtained by Freedom of Information requests. Lyall criticised the project because, she said, “Time and again, research shows that algorithmic systems for ‘predicting’ crime are inherently flawed.” She said these AI systems profile people as criminals before they’ve done anything wrong.
Government researchers are allegedly using surveillance algorithms that analyse thousands of people’s information, including crime victims, to prevent crime by attempting to identify those at higher risk of committing serious violent offences.
‘Detecting those about to commit murder’
According to the Guardian’s exclusive interview with a government spokesperson, the Ministry of Justice will “review offender characteristics that increase the risk of committing homicide” and “explore alternative and innovative data science techniques for risk assessment of homicide.”
The spokesperson added, “The project will provide evidence to improve risk assessment of serious crime and ultimately contribute to protecting the public via better analysis.”
But Statewatch and other activists slam the project as ill-conceived, particularly given that it uses data from the UK’s “institutionally racist police and Home Office”, which Lyall said: “Will reinforce and magnify the structural discrimination underpinning the criminal legal system.”
Statewatch called on the MoJ to “immediately halt further development of this murder prediction tool. Instead of throwing money towards developing dodgy and racist AI and algorithms, the government must invest in genuinely supportive welfare services.”
The UK’s prime minister’s office commissioned the controversial surveillance project when Rishi Sunak was in power. It uses data about crime from various government sources, such as the Probation Service and Greater Manchester police, from before 2015.
The project uses people’s private information, including their names, dates of birth, gender, ethnicity, and a number that identifies them on the police national computer.
