Artificial Intelligence Driven Forensic Evidence: Shift from Human Experts to Machine Testimony

Abstract

Forensic science has been traditionally grounded in the assumption that objective scientific analysis, as carried out by human experts, can help the criminal justice system in uncovering the truth. From fingerprint analysis and handwriting comparison to DNA profiling and ballistic analysis, courts across various jurisdictions rely on expert interpretation of scientific expert opinion to establish guilt or innocence. However, this reliance has become increasingly constrained in an era marked by exponential data growth, complex digital manipulation and inherent limits in human cognitive and analytical capacity. In response, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun playing an expanding role in forensic processes. Machine learning systems, used in a variety of investigations such as voice identification, crime scene reconstruction, deepfake detection or digital forensics, offer the promise of enhanced speed, efficiency and analytical ability. These characteristics that are especially attractive to country like India where over-burdened criminal system is a common phenomenon.