In a significant development at the intersection of technology and criminal justice, Securus Technologies, a leading U.S. telecommunications firm, is piloting an artificial intelligence model designed to analyze years of recorded phone and video calls made by inmates. This initiative aims to identify potential criminal activities by scanning communications, including calls, texts, and emails of prisoners. Kevin Elder, the president of Securus Technologies, revealed that the company has been working on these AI tools since 2023, leveraging a vast database of interactions to train its models. A notable example is an AI model trained on seven years’ worth of calls from the Texas prison system, with similar efforts underway in various other states and counties.
However, this approach has raised concerns among prisoner rights advocates, who argue that it represents a troubling expansion of surveillance capabilities within the prison system. Critics emphasize that the lack of clear judicial limits on this technology could lead to abuses of power and further infringe on inmates’ rights. As this pilot program progresses, it remains essential to balance public safety interests with ethical considerations surrounding privacy and surveillance practices in correctional facilities.
In parallel, nominations have opened for the prestigious 2026 Innovators Under 35 competition, hosted by MIT Technology Review. This annual recognition celebrates 35 outstanding young innovators and scientists who are making significant contributions to their fields. Those interested in nominating themselves or others can easily do so, marking an opportunity to spotlight emerging talent shaping the future of technology. The competition, which has highlighted innovative minds for over two decades, encourages participation from a diverse array of disciplines, fostering a culture of recognition and inspiration within the tech community.
Source: The Download: spotting crimes in prisoners’ phone calls, and nominate an Innovator Under 35 via MIT Technology Review