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Comment and Technology

When it comes to crime, you can't algorithm your way to safety

There are serious issues with new proposals to use artificial intelligence to predict future crimes, says Yu Xiong, chair of the advisory board to the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Metaverse and Web 3.0

By Yu Xiong

14 May 2025

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Simone Rotella

The UK government’s proposed AI-powered crime prediction tool, designed to flag individuals deemed “high risk” for future violence based on personal data like mental health history and addiction, marks a provocative new frontier.

Elsewhere, Argentina’s new Artifical Intelligence Unit for Security intends to use machine learning for crime prediction and real-time surveillance. In Canada, police forces in cities like Toronto and Vancouver use predictive policing and tools like Clearview AI facial recognition. And in some US cities, AI facial recognition is paired with street surveillance to track suspects.

The promise of anticipating violence Minority Report-style is compelling. But…

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