Chatbots in US justice system raise bias, privacy concerns

The NIJ report predicts that much more advanced chatbots, including those that measure emotions and mimic empathy, are likely to be introduced into the criminal justice system. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON: When the US state of New Jersey lifted a Covid-19 ban on foreclosures last year, court officials hatched a plan to handle the incoming influx of cases: train a chatbot to respond to queries.

The program – nicknamed JIA – is one of a number of bots being rolled out by US justice systems, with advocates saying they improve access to services while critics warn automation opens the door for errors, bias, and privacy violations.