The UK government is working on a “murder prediction” algorithm that can use the personal data of people with criminal records to identify potential killers. About this informs The Guardian.
Researchers plan to analyze data from thousands of individuals, including crime victims, to identify those at increased risk of committing serious violent crimes. The project was originally called “homicide prediction,” but was later renamed “data sharing to improve risk assessment.”
The UK Ministry of Justice said the program would “analyze the characteristics of offenders that increase the likelihood of committing murder” and “explore alternative and innovative data analysis methods to assess the risk of committing murder”. This initiative is expected to improve serious crime risk assessment and help protect the public.
The ministry also expressed hope that the project would help strengthen public security, but human rights activists called it “terrible and dystopian.” The existence of the program became known thanks to the investigation of the human rights organization Statewatch.
Statewatch states that the project may use personal data of people without criminal records, including information about self-harm and domestic violence. At the same time, official representatives categorically deny this, assuring that only the data of persons with existing criminal convictions will be involved.
The project was initiated during the Prime Ministership of Rishi Sunak, and currently the development of the algorithm continues exclusively within the framework of scientific research.
