Yes, AI is judging you

Secret algorithms are secretly judging us. Governments across Europe are using flawed AI for law enforcement and predictive policing, quietly shaping justice and playing with people’s lives.

Join us as we go behind the scenes of a year-long investigation across the Netherlands, Italy and Spain that reveals the shocking truth behind these “decision machines”.

This episode features investigative journalist Pablo Jiménez Arandia, a member of the cross-border team of journalists behind Decision Machines, a year-long investigation into algorithms used in the criminal justice system with almost no scrutiny.

We unpack how reporters uncovered secret systems to predict recidivism among young offenders and the likelihood of prisoners committing future crimes when up for parole. 

The discussion highlights the risks of predictive policing, the importance of human stories in understanding algorithmic impacts and the role of journalism in holding these systems accountable. We also touch on the shortcomings of legislation surrounding AI and the ethical considerations of using algorithms on vulnerable populations.

Credits

Host: Timothy Large, director of independent media programmes at the International Press Institute (IPI) and head of the Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU).

Guest: Pablo Jiménez Arandia, Spanish freelance investigative journalist

Production and graphic: Milica Miletić, project and events coordinator at IPI