Gayathri Siva

Artificial Intelligence in Law and Public Policy: Issues, Applications, and Regulation

Introduction

Artificial intelligence in law and public policy: issues, applications, and regulation. Explore AI's applications, issues, and regulation in law and public policy. Discusses data protection, bias, predictive policing, and Canada's AIDA for AI oversight.

Abstract

With the release of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT to the public, issues surrounding its regulation have become more prevalent as well. AI has many uses, with this technology being able to process information through audio, video, and text, and analyze data to detect any abnormalities (van Noordt & Misuraca 2022). It can also be applied in law enforcement to analyze neighborhoods and predict the likelihood of crime (Taeihagh 2021; Helbing 2019; Mittelstadt, Allo, Taddeo, Wachter, & Floridi 2016). Hung and Yen (2021) call this Predictive Policing (PP). However, increased application of AI, associated with its widespread availability, can also have adverse consequences in law and public policy. Namely, issues in data protection and bias that could be disproportionately harmful to marginalized communities (Hung & Yen 2021; Wang et al. 2021; van Noordt & Misuraca 2022; Büthe et al. 2022; Johnson 2023). This essay will be discussing applications of AI in law and public policy through analysis of relevant academic literature published between 2019 and 2023, as well as accompanying consequences. This essay will also be looking specifically at the Canadian Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), tabled in June 2022 as part of Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022, to determine the state of AI regulation nationwide and propose relevant solutions.

Review

This paper tackles the highly pertinent and rapidly evolving intersection of Artificial Intelligence with law and public policy, a topic of escalating global importance following the widespread public engagement with advanced AI systems like ChatGPT. The abstract effectively highlights the dual nature of AI: its profound utility in processing complex data and supporting applications from general information analysis to specialized fields like law enforcement's predictive policing, alongside its significant potential for adverse societal impact. By framing the discussion around issues, applications, and regulation, the paper positions itself as a timely and relevant contribution to the discourse surrounding responsible AI development and deployment. The proposed scope of the paper is robust, promising a comprehensive analysis of AI's implications. It adeptly identifies key application areas, notably predictive policing, and critically addresses the inherent challenges, specifically data protection concerns and algorithmic bias, emphasizing their disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. The commitment to analyzing recent academic literature (2019-2023) ensures that the discussion is current and evidence-based. A particularly valuable aspect is the paper's intention to specifically examine the Canadian Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA). This localized focus provides a concrete case study for understanding national regulatory efforts, moving beyond theoretical discussions to explore practical legislative responses and propose solutions. Overall, the abstract outlines a well-conceived and ambitious project with significant potential to contribute to the field. While the analytical framework appears sound, the impact of the 'proposed relevant solutions' will largely depend on their specificity, feasibility, and grounding in the preceding literature review and analysis of AIDA. Given the breadth of 'issues, applications, and regulation,' ensuring sufficient depth across all three pillars, particularly in teasing out the nuances of bias and data protection, will be crucial. This paper holds promise for offering valuable insights into the complex challenges of governing AI and informing future policy directions, particularly within the Canadian context but with broader implications for international discussions.

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