Is the use of machine learning technologies by the police of concern to Quebec stakeholders?
Algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning – these terms are increasingly part of everyday vocabulary, sometimes confusingly. But when public administrations, especially law enforcement officers, adopt such technologies, it is no longer just a matter of vocabulary. The literature shows that police services in different countries, including Quebec, are now using advanced technology in various operations. However, the importance and benefits of this trend are subject to debate. This paper analyzes the importance, measured by occurrence and frequency analysis, that stakeholders who participated in recent public consultations on the future of policing in Quebec placed on the adoption of artificial intelligence and algorithmic technologies by the province’s law enforcement agencies.