Author: Johana Bhuiyan
Publisher: The Guardian
Publication Year: 2021
Summary: The following article describes how since the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), cities have been incorporating the use of AI to stop potential crimes. One strategy being used is predictive policing. Predictive Policing is the use of algorithms to analyze crime information to predict and prevent future crimes. Los Angeles, California, adopted predictive policing practices, which they termed Operation Laser, as part of its efforts in the war against crime. The LAPD patrolled the dangerous zones identified by the predictive model. The model identified minority communities as these dangerous zones. This means being stopped by the police for a traffic violation, the model will flag you as a potential suspect in a crime you have not committed. The inconsistencies in the model led to the police killing a 31-year-old man in the dangerous zone. Categorizing an entire community as dangerous resulted in unjustified contact with the police, and more people were criminalized for it. The anger of the public and some police officers threatening to resign pushed Los Angeles to withdraw from its contract and reassess the data that was used by the predictive model.
