UK Government Caught Developing 'Crime Prediction' Algorithm... Explains It Was for Research Purposes

by Lim Juhyeong

Published 10 Apr.2025 18:14(KST)

Revealed Through a Freedom of Information Request by a Nonprofit Organization

A program that predicts murder using artificial intelligence (AI) was secretly being developed in the United Kingdom, according to reports.

The British daily newspaper The Guardian reported on the 8th (local time) that during the tenure of former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (2022?2024), the government commissioned the development of an algorithm capable of identifying "potential criminals."

There is growing interest following reports that the UK government was developing a crime prediction program. Pixabay

This information was revealed through a Freedom of Information request by the UK-based nonprofit organization Statewatch. Originally called the "Murder Prediction Project," the research project was renamed "Data Sharing for Improved Risk Assessment" and reportedly analyzed the personal information of thousands of individuals, including crime victims, to identify potential criminals.

The UK government explained the project’s purpose as "aiming to better understand the likelihood that individuals on probation might commit serious crimes," but Statewatch criticized it as "dystopian."

Statewatch also expressed concerns about the possibility that information not only about criminals but also about innocent people and crime victims could be used. Sensitive personal data such as the mental health, domestic violence history, and disabilities of crime victims were included in the analyzed data, raising human rights concerns.

Sophia Lyal, a researcher at Statewatch, stated, "Numerous studies have repeatedly demonstrated the inherent flaws in algorithmic systems that predict crime," adding, "This program could reinforce and amplify structural discrimination embedded in the criminal justice system and may lead to biases against racial minorities and low-income groups."

The UK government clarified that the project was conducted solely for research purposes. According to The Guardian, the UK Ministry of Justice issued a statement explaining, "This project is for research purposes and utilized existing data from correctional institutions and the police regarding convicted individuals." It added, "It was designed to better assess the risk of individuals on probation committing serious violent crimes."