522 Such a system can be created in Azerbaijan – legal expert’s opinion
As we reported, British law enforcement agencies are developing a database to prevent violent crime. According to local media, with the help of this database they will search for “potential” victims and murderers. The system will contain information on suicide attempts, acts of domestic violence, and in general, on the inclinations of various people, including those who have not committed serious crimes. Human rights activists say that they have created a database that is essentially a “cold dystopia”. Although the Ministry of Justice does not deny the development of the project, it prefers not to disclose its details.
Representatives of the Statewatch organization, which investigates violations of freedom of speech and human rights in Britain, told the press that the project is being actively developed. According to the organization, information on hundreds of thousands of Britons has been transferred to the police. By 2023, the database will be ready and, based on a person’s criminal history, will indicate the approximate probability of their committing a violent crime. The system is constantly being improved.
Interestingly, it is possible to collect more detailed information about potential crime victims. The database records cases of self-harm, mental illness, disability and anthropometric data. Most likely, the same information is collected about potential criminals. This system was originally called the “Homicide Prediction Project”. Later, the name was changed to the more neutral “Data Sharing to Improve Risk Assessment”. Perhaps artificial intelligence is involved in analyzing the information.
Officials do not deny the existence of the project, but they insist that the database only includes people who have at least one conviction for any crime. Officials have promised to publish a report on the work done in the near future. Authorities are confident that the database will allow for a better analysis of the situation, but it is not clear what preventive measures this analysis will lead to.
Can such a database, a system based on artificial intelligence, be created in Azerbaijan? Would it be effective?
Natig Alasgarov
Natig Alasgarov, head of the Baku Law Firm, told Yeni Musavat that in recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been at the center of not only technology, but also legal and ethical discussions: “The development of a database by law enforcement agencies in Britain to identify “potential murders and victims” in advance is a clear example of this trend. This system uses artificial intelligence algorithms to assess the likelihood of people being involved in violent crime in the future, based on their past behavior and social status. According to the information, the project began as “Predicting Murders”, but was renamed “Information Sharing for Risk Assessment” to sound more neutral.”
Natig Alasgarov said that the project collects data on mental health disorders, domestic violence, suicidal tendencies, anthropometric indicators and other personal data: “Artificial intelligence forms a risk level for a person based on this data. The goal here is to prevent a crime before it occurs. For some, this is prevention of danger, while for others, it may be seen as a threat to personal freedoms.”
According to Natig Alasgarov, one of the main criticisms of this system is that a person is registered as a “criminal” before committing a crime: “There are many who consider this approach to be despotic. Today, organizations such as “Statewatch” in Britain claim that personal data on hundreds of thousands of British people is already in the hands of police authorities. However, the majority of these individuals have not committed any crimes. They believe that the principle of “presumption of innocence” is at stake here. Such systems can inevitably lead to discrimination against certain social groups. As for the possibility of establishing such a system in Azerbaijan, it is technically possible to create such a database in our country. Digitalization is rapidly progressing in the country, and initial steps are also being taken in the field of artificial intelligence. However, several serious issues need to be clarified for the implementation of such a system. Legislation on the protection of personal data should create a clear framework for the collection and use of such data. The decision-making mechanisms of algorithms should be transparent and should not conflict with human rights. It is also important to prepare society for this, to open a public debate about the implementation of such a system, and to inform and educate citizens.”
Natig Alasgarov said that if an institution were created to monitor the system, investigate abuses, and submit public reports, no problem would arise: “If such systems are established within a transparent, ethical, and legal framework, they could be useful in preventing crimes. For example, it would be possible to identify and intervene in cases of domestic violence early and provide timely assistance to suicidal individuals. However, the “predictive” nature of the system also shows that incorrect assumptions and “ethical errors” are inevitable. The use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement agencies, especially for preventive purposes, is not a future, but a reality of today. However, human rights and freedoms should not be forgotten when using the capabilities of technology. Otherwise, technology will begin to rule us instead of protecting us.”
