AI experts warn against crime prediction algorithms, saying there are no 'physical features to criminality'

A number of AI researchers, data scientists, sociologists, and historians have written an open letter to end the publishing of research that claims artificial intelligence or facial recognition can predict whether a person is likely to be a criminal. The letter, signed by over 1000 experts, argues that data generated by the criminal justice system cannot be used to "identify criminals" or predict behaviour. Historical court and arrest data reflect the policies and practises of the criminal justice system and are therefore biased, the experts say. "These data reflect who police choose to arrest, how judges choose to rule, and which people are granted longer or more lenient sentences," the letter reads. Moreover, by continuing these studies, "'criminality' operates as a proxy for race due to racially discriminatory practices in law enforcement and criminal justice, research of this nature creates dangerous feedback loops" the letter says.