A new start-up is leveraging AI to address gender-based violence by focusing on victim blaming within the justice system.
- The initiative, led by herEthical AI, aims to improve cultural practices in crime handling by scrutinising court language.
- The app identifies victim-blaming expressions in legal documents, working closely with Riverlight, a domestic abuse organisation.
- A crowdfunding effort supports survivors in accessing court transcripts for AI analysis.
- The project underscores the necessity of AI skills across police and public sectors to change prevailing attitudes.
A pioneering start-up, herEthical AI, has embarked on an ambitious project to mitigate gender-based violence by employing artificial intelligence to expose and address ‘victim blaming’ within the justice system. This app, nearing completion, is designed to examine legal texts and identify language that undermines victims’ credibility, thereby altering the cultural discourse surrounding crime.
Led by Tamara Polajnar, who possesses expertise in machine learning and natural language processing, herEthical AI was co-founded with Anthony Joslin, a former senior police figure. The entity collaborates with Riverlight, a non-profit committed to aiding domestic abuse survivors, to refine the app’s functionality and influence legal practices.
The application scrutinises court judgments and transcripts, extracting misogynistic and victim-blaming language. Riverlight’s previously launched campaign, ‘In the Judge’s Words’, has already highlighted the troubling attitudes found within the judiciary, illustrating instances where judges have downplayed abuse or implied victim culpability.
In support of this technological advancement, a crowdfunding project has been initiated, successfully raising £1,200 thus far. This funding enables survivors to procure necessary court documents for the AI system, enhancing its database and improving the detection of biased language in legal proceedings.
According to Anthony Joslin, the app, which is approximately 80-90% complete, provides initial results by utilising a ‘victim-blaming taxonomy’ and is poised to publish an academic paper detailing its findings. This initiative is part of a broader conversation with law enforcement agencies to streamline data processing and change their internal culture.
Polajnar emphasises the importance of training personnel on empathetically engaging with victims, as AI alone cannot rectify ingrained biases. HerEthical AI drives the narrative that a fusion of technological and human efforts is crucial to reform how crime, particularly domestic abuse, is handled by authorities.
Joslin highlights the urgent need for public sector leaders, including police and the Crown Prosecution Service, to embrace AI skills to better manage and interpret intelligence related to domestic abuse cases. This integration is vital to reshaping institutional attitudes and fostering a more supportive environment for survivors.
HerEthical AI’s efforts signify a growing recognition of the role that advanced technology can play in transforming societal responses to domestic violence.
