荔枝视频

A new research initiative examining racial bias in artificial intelligence (AI) tools used in policing has received $60,000 in funding from the Canada Race Relations Foundation.

The grant has been awarded to the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre (ACLRC), in partnership with the 荔枝视频 Faculty of Law, with Dr. Gideon Christian serving as project and research lead.

鈥淎I systems are often presented as neutral and objective,鈥� said Christian. 鈥淏ut when these tools are trained on historically biased data or deployed without meaningful oversight, they risk automating and scaling racial injustice. This project is about ensuring that technological innovation is guided by principles of equity, accountability, and human rights.鈥�

The initiative aims to explore how AI technologies used in the criminal justice system may create and reproduce systemic racial inequities. The research will primarily focus on the disproportionate impacts experienced by Black communities, including increased surveillance, misidentification, and elevated policing risk.

Incorporating a strong public policy lens, the project will draw on empirical research, legal analysis, and community consultations to document potential discriminatory outcomes and identify gaps in current oversight frameworks. Grounded in community leadership and lived experience, the project aims to generate policy-ready evidence to inform reforms at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

Findings will be shared with justice officials, police services, human rights bodies, and federal regulators, contributing to ongoing efforts to strengthen the governance of AI and support more equitable outcomes within Canada鈥檚 justice system.