UK Government Considers Chip Implants and Robot Wardens in Prisons

The UK government is considering a series of high-tech solutions to address prison overcrowding and reduce reoffending rates, according to minutes from a recent meeting. Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, met with over two dozen executives from major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Palantir, to discuss innovative ideas for creating a 'prison outside of prison'.

At the meeting, hosted by industry lobby group Tech UK, Mahmood advocated for deeper collaboration between the government and tech sector. The goal is to solve the prison capacity crisis, reduce reoffending, and enhance community safety. The discussions included proposals for chip implants under the skin of prisoners, robot wardens, and the use of quantum computers to predict crimes.

The meeting explored the expansion of existing tagging technologies to go beyond monitoring and into rehabilitation and crime reduction. Tech companies also proposed the use of driverless vehicles for prisoner transportation, wearable technologies, behavior monitoring, and geolocation to envision a prison justice system of 2050.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed support for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in public services, aiming to 'totally rewiring government'. David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, has previously championed the use of AI and facial recognition technology to reduce the prison population by nearly 10,000 people.

While these ideas are currently described as 'hypothetical talking points', they have sparked significant concern among human rights advocates. Donald Campbell, director of advocacy at Foxglove, a non-profit organization campaigning for fairer use of technology, criticized the proposals as 'alarmingly dystopian'.

Campbell, who accessed the meeting minutes through a freedom of information request, expressed alarm at the prospect of robots managing prisoners, implanting devices under people’s skin to track behavior, and using computers to predict future actions. The Ministry of Justice maintains that it is exploring technology to cut crime, monitor offenders effectively, and keep the public safe.

The UK government is navigating a complex landscape where technological advancements offer potential solutions to pressing issues, but also raise ethical and human rights concerns. As the discussions continue, the balance between innovation and safeguarding individual rights remains a critical consideration.