The School of Policy Studies and the Department of Political Studies Present:

A Research Talk with Leah West

"Privacy vs. Precaution: Responsible Use of AI-Driven Intelligence in Armed Conflict"

Monday, February 6, 2023 | 2:30-4:30 PM

Robert Sutherland Hall Room 202

Abstract: The operational demands of modern armed conflict highlight a pressing need for AI-driven intelligence. Modern tools, like facial recognition technology, can help soldiers quickly identify enemy combatants and limit collateral damage. Yet, the widespread use of AI-enabled surveillance methods poses a serious threat to the privacy rights of non-combatants. This talk explores the tension between the quest for identity dominance promoted by international humanitarian law and the privacy rights of civilians living through an armed conflict. Dr. West will argue that despite this apparent conflict, the right to privacy and the principle of precaution apply concurrently in an armed conflict and offer a function-based approach to designing policies and procedures capable of adapting to meet the military’s evolving privacy obligations.

Biography: Leah West is an Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. She completed her SJD at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2020, where her research explored the application of criminal, constitutional and international law to state conduct in cyberspace.