The future of artificial intelligence in policing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are being used in a variety of commercial and government settings for “smarter” decision making. In criminal justice, the attractions of AI for crime prediction and risk assessment—with its promises of efficiency, accuracy and ability to handle complexity—are almost irresistible.

Janet Chan co-lead of hub stream Data Justice, recently presented the Ray Whitrod Memorial Lecture at Flinders University’s Centre for Crime Policy Research. Professor Chan spoke on the topic of “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Policing”.  

The lecture described the competing sociotechnical imaginaries of how AI will affect policing practices and the critical debates these visions have opened up. The analysis suggests that there is scope (and indeed an obligation) for citizens in relatively open and democratic societies to contest unduly optimistic visions that gloss over the potential harmful effects of technological change.

The lecture is named in honour of the contribution of Ray Whitrod, who came to national prominence in 1976 when he resigned as Queensland Commissioner of Police as a protest against corruption. He campaigned for improving police professionalism and integrity and to providing assistance to victims of crime.