AI in policing may lead to targeting marginalised neighbourhoods: CJI DY Chandrachud
Bengaluru: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has cautioned against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system, highlighting the risk of systemic biases being perpetuated through data used to train these technologies. Delivering the keynote address at the 11th Annual Conference of the Berkeley Centre for Comparative Equality and Antidiscrimination Law, organized by the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, the CJI emphasized the potential for AI to disproportionately target marginalized communities.
CJI Chandrachud explained that if historical crime data used for AI algorithms reflect existing biases or systemic inequalities, these algorithms may continue to identify the same marginalized neighbourhoods as "high-risk" areas. "This can result in disproportionate surveillance and policing of already marginalized communities, exacerbating social inequalities and perpetuating cycles of discrimination," he stated.
The Chief Justice also pointed out the opacity of predictive policing algorithms, which often function as black boxes with non-transparent internal workings. He stressed the importance of "contextualization" in addressing AI challenges in India, given the country's diverse demographic patterns characterized by linguistic diversity, regional variations, and cultural nuances.
"We need to be vigilant about the origins of data and its potential biases, scrutinize the algorithms we employ for transparency and fairness, and actively seek to mitigate any unintended discriminatory effects," CJI Chandrachud urged, advocating for ethical and equitable engagement with AI.
Addressing broader issues of inequality, CJI Chandrachud linked climate change to social inequities, noting that marginalized groups such as women, children, disabled individuals, and indigenous people face heightened risks. He pointed out that wealthier individuals often have the means to protect themselves against climate impacts, while poorer communities are more vulnerable due to a lack of resources.
"Inequality thus becomes both a cause and consequence of climate change," he remarked, emphasizing the need for climate justice that recognizes differential impacts and involves affected communities in decision-making processes.
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Allahabad High Court directs Centre to decide on Rahul Gandhi's citizenship by December 19
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has instructed the Union Home Ministry to decide on a petition regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship. The Bench, led by Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, set a deadline of December 19, 2024, for the government to update the Court on the matter.
The petition, filed by S Vignesh Shishir, requests a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations that Rahul Gandhi holds British citizenship. Shishir claims that evidence, including confidential emails shared by VSS Sarma, suggests Gandhi may be a British citizen. However, due to UK data protection laws, the British government has not disclosed full details without Gandhi's consent.
During the November 25 hearing, Deputy Solicitor General SB Pandey informed the Court that the Home Ministry is reviewing the representation. The Court directed the government to report on the status of the petition by the next hearing on December 19.
A similar petition challenging Rahul Gandhi's citizenship is pending before the Delhi High Court, where the matter will be heard after the Allahabad High Court's proceedings.
