The development of a “murder prediction” program by the UK government using personal data to identify individuals with the potential to commit murder has sparked controversy.

The UK government is developing a program aimed at identifying individuals with the potential to commit murder using personal data. It is claimed that researchers analyze the data of thousands of individuals, including crime victims, and attempt to identify individuals at risk of committing violent crimes. Initially named the “murder prediction project,” the program’s name has now been changed to “data sharing to enhance risk assessment.” The Ministry of Justice hopes that this project will help increase public safety, but there are also those who describe the project as “unsettling and dystopian.” The existence of the project came to light with the discovery by the pressure group Statewatch and documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Statewatch alleges that data of individuals who have not been convicted of any crime, including suicidal tendencies and details related to domestic violence, will be used in the project. “SOLELY FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES”

The government, however, stated that the project is currently solely for research purposes. According to a statement by the Ministry of Justice, the program will “review criminal characteristics that increase the risk of committing murder” and “explore alternative and innovative data science techniques to conduct a risk assessment related to murder.” A ministry spokesperson stated that the project aims to “provide evidence to improve the risk assessment of serious crimes.” “This project is solely for research purposes. It has been designed to help us understand better how prone individuals on probation are to committing serious violent crimes, using data from convicted criminals held by the prison and probation service and police forces. A report on the matter will be published promptly.” However, critics of the project are concerned that the use of data will create biases against minority ethnic groups and impoverished people. Initiated during the term of Rishi Sunak, the project uses crime data from Greater Manchester Police before 2015 and various official sources. The processed data types include names, dates of birth, gender, ethnicity, and numbers used to identify individuals in the police national computer. ARE PERSONAL DATA BEING SHARED?

Statewatch’s claims that data of innocent individuals and those who have sought police assistance will be used are based on a part of the data sharing agreement between the Ministry of Justice and Greater Manchester Police. Under the section titled “types of personal data to be shared” of this agreement, various types of criminal convictions are listed alongside the age at which a person appears as a victim for the first time. Additionally, the age a person first approached the police will also be shared among the data. HEALTH DATA IS ALSO A CONCERN

Under the “categories of personal data” in the program, “health data with high predictive power” is also included; these include mental health, addiction, suicide, disability, and other conditions. “UNEASY AND DYSTOPIAN”

In her statement regarding the program, Statewatch researcher Sofia Lyall said, “The Ministry of Justice’s attempt to establish this murder prediction system is a disturbing and dystopian example of the government’s intention to develop ‘crime prediction’ systems.” Lyall also stated, “Numerous studies have shown that algorithms used to predict crimes are inherently flawed. This new model will reinforce and magnify the structural discrimination present in the criminal justice system.” WHAT DOES THE MINORITY REPORT MOVIE TELL?

The controversial technology has been likened to the film Minority Report (2002), starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg. Adapted from a short story by renowned science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, the film focuses on a special police unit that preempts murders using fortune-tellers and various technological devices before they occur.