Event Flyer

Algorithmic decision-making in organizations can offer strategic advantages but it is well-recognized that these technologies, despite their potential benefits, often lead to discrimination. This is particularly relevant in law enforcement, which is an organization where they need to police effectively while doing so fairly. However, the best approach to ethically use algorithmic decision-making in law enforcement remains unclear, since safeguards and laws to prevent discrimination from this technology vary widely from outright banning the technology to relying on AI companies to reduce bias. Given this, we ask how, if at all, can algorithmic decision-making be ethically used in policing? To do this, we examine what influences and determines the decision to use algorithmic decision-making, investigating the influence of private AI companies. Next, we analyze various safeguards currently used to prevent discrimination from these systems. This includes investigating why places enacted outright bans on the technology in certain situations while others use laws or standards, along with assessing the effectiveness of each approach. Specifically, what is of most interest is how to prevent discrimination that happens because of structural, persisting inequality and how bias can become embedded in these systems even without intention. 

Speaker: Brittany Green, University of Louisville