EPIC, Coalition Urge Investigation into Audio Surveillance in Prisons and Jails

EPIC and a coalition of civil rights groups have submitted letters to the U.S. Attorney General, the DOJ Civil Rights Division, the New York Office of the Attorney General, and the New York State Inspector General calling for an investigation into the use of artificial intelligence to perform phone call surveillance in prisons and jails. AI audio surveillance has been used in New York prisons and jails to illegally record and transcribe privileged calls between attorneys and their clients. The technology, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, is being used in a racially biased manner and is enabling excessive and even illegal intrusions of privacy. EPIC recently filed comments with the FCC highlighting abusive and exploitative practices by prison phone provider Securus Technologies. EPIC has long called to limit audio surveillance and has advocated against biased artificial intelligence in the criminal legal system.