UCalgary Law professor warns senate of Canada’s growing inequality crisis within artificial intelligence
Dr. Gideon Christian appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, to provide expert testimony on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in Canada, specifically within the Black community.
At the , Christian presented evidence as the committee examined AI biases and systemic patterns growing within high-risk sectors such as policing, criminal justice, and immigration in Canada.
According to Christian, facial recognition technology has led to numerous wrongful arrests, with Black individuals being disproportionately affected. He shared that error rates can reach as high as 34% for Black women, compared to just 0.8% for white men, creating a disparity within AI that creates a civil rights issue rather than simply a technical failure.
At present, Canada does not have specific legislations that govern AI, as existing laws were drafted before it became widespread. Christian emphasized the importance of implementing Canadian regulations to oversee AI use, without which these disparities may continue to worsen.