Canadian police using predictive policing algorithms

A report by the University of Toronto’s International Human Rights Program and Citizen Lab has reveaied that Canada’s law enforcement agencies are using a variety of algorithmic policing methods. In addition to using historical data to predict potential locations of criminal activity, the state’s police forces are using predictive algorithms to identify potential missing persons and people that are ‘at risk’ of committing crimes. The report highlights a number of potential issues with the mass collection of public data like social media content and facial recognition and co-author and criminal defense lawyer, Kate Robertson, said disadvantaged communities are at greater risk of targeted surveillance.