The major issue is that the tech is not ready. If you reduce the false positive rate by 5% but you facilitate processing 20% more claims (to use some arbitrary numbers) you are still increasing the absolute number of false positives by 14%. With the punitive American justice system, that is 14% more people who will be detained unjustly, and then when they leave they will be denied most opportunities for housing, jobs, and other things needed to participate in society.
Technology can address biases but we need to make sure that they are addressed sufficiently, so that we do not end up causing more problems than we solve.
> If you reduce the false positive rate by 5% but you facilitate processing 20% more claims (to use some arbitrary numbers) you are still increasing the absolute number of false positives by 14%.
This is a really interesting point that I'll keep in the back of my mind, thanks for that! I hadn't even thought it through in such a concrete manner but I think this really hits the nail on the head.
Technology can address biases but we need to make sure that they are addressed sufficiently, so that we do not end up causing more problems than we solve.