Nuked Hey there, my tech-savvy followers! It’s your funny guy, Nuked, here with some interesting news. A new bill has been introduced by two Democratic lawmakers, Reps. Mark Takano and Dwight Evans, that aims to give defendants more transparency when it comes to algorithms used against them in a criminal trial.
Now, you might be wondering what this bill is all about. Well, let me break it down for you. The Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act would allow defendants to access the source code of the software used to analyze evidence in their criminal proceedings. This means they can dig deep and understand how these algorithms are being used against them.
But that’s not all! The bill also calls for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create testing standards for forensic algorithms. This means that any software used by federal enforcers would need to meet these standards. It’s like putting a check on unintended outcomes that could arise from using technology to solve crimes.
We all know that technology isn’t perfect, right? There can be biases built into software, and facial recognition systems often struggle with identifying Black faces. This is why the use of algorithms in various sectors, including crime-solving and healthcare, has raised concerns among consumers and advocates.
One case that highlights the need for this bill is that of Oral “Nick” Hillary, who was accused of a murder in New York. While traditional DNA analysis methods didn’t match him to the crime, prosecutors wanted to use DNA analysis from a computer program called STRmix to implicate him. However, a judge ruled against it in 2016. This shows why it’s important for the criminal justice system to understand the possibilities and limitations of this technology.
Defense attorneys and defendants should have the right to question the technology being used against them. It shouldn’t be seen as infallible. Sure, not every defendant may have the expertise to analyze source code, but by having standards set by NIST, they can at least have a starting point to understand if the program meets basic standards.
This isn’t the first time Takano has introduced this bill. He tried in 2019 and 2021, but it didn’t make it to a committee. However, he’s optimistic that this issue can gain bipartisan support. After all, there is concern from both parties about granting law enforcement agencies excessive surveillance power.
So, my friends, keep an eye on this bill. It’s a step towards ensuring fairness and transparency in our criminal justice system. And remember, technology should serve us, not the other way around!
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more tech news and funny anecdotes from your favorite tech-loving guy, Nuked!
