Safeguards must be established to prevent abuse of AI: CJI DY Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud on Monday, 1 April said that adequate safeguards must be established to prevent abuse of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and other advanced technologies.

Delivering 20th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture on the occasion of CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) Raising Day, CJI Chandrachud said that AI is not free of prejudice and biases and because of skewed data, AI may lead to community-based profiling of marginalised social groups.

"This may not only abuse the privacy rights of individuals but also lead to disproportionate targeting of social groups. AI is a gift which must only be wielded within ethical boundaries," he said.

CJI Chandrachud added that the benefits of technological advancement should reach all members of society to build trust and confidence among stakeholders and uphold the integrity of our justice system.

He said that with the assistance of AI algorithms, law enforcement agencies like the CBI can analyse vast amounts of data rapidly, identifying trends, anomalies, and potential leads with unprecedented accuracy.

"For example, in a human trafficking case, AI-powered algorithms analysed social media data to identify patterns of suspicious behaviour and communication among potential perpetrators," CJI Chandrachud said.

By leveraging AI technology, law enforcement could sift through vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently, pinpointing critical leads and actionable intelligence that might have otherwise gone unnoticed, the CJI added.

CJI Chandrachud also presented President's Police Medals (PPM) and Police Medals (PM) to CBI officers on the occasion.

The CBI was established by the Union government vide a resolution dated 1 April, 1963 to investigate cases of bribery and corruption, including violation of central fiscal laws and serious crimes.