Minority Report’s Vision of Predictive Policing : An Ethical Perspective
In Spielberg’s Minority Report (2002), we glimpse a future where a specialized police force can predict and prevent crime before it occurs. This futuristic notion is no longer confined to science fiction; today, it’s a reality known as predictive policing. It harnesses data-driven analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate and combat crime.
The roots of AI-based predictive policing date back to the early 2000s when the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) began using basic algorithms to identify crime hotspots and allocate resources more efficiently. Over time, this strategy has evolved significantly. AI-driven algorithms now analyze vast datasets, including demographic information and past criminal activity, offering real-time updates to police officers for proactive crime prevention. However, as this technology advances, ethical concerns regarding data privacy, racial profiling, and biased resource allocation have surfaced. In my research, I delve into these ethical implications, primarily within the United States, to explore how we can harness the potential of predictive policing while preserving ethical principles.
Methodology and Ethical Issues
Predictive policing employs two primary strategies: place-based and person-based.
