Coordinating Minister Yusril Exposes the 'Black Box' of AI That Could Undermine Justice

The acceleration of the artificial intelligence revolution, surpassing many predictions, has led the world to recognise that this technology is no longer merely a tool but has transformed into a new instrument of power. Major countries are competing to build dominance, while developing nations face a difficult choice: follow the current or fall far behind.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Services, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, reminded that AI development must not be separated from the fundamental principles of the rule of law, democracy, and the protection of human rights. In his view, technological progress without value controls has the potential to shift the foundations of justice that have long been upheld.

Speaking at a public lecture at Mahasaraswati University in Denpasar on Wednesday (15/4), Yusril emphasised that the digital revolution is not just about efficiency and innovation. Behind it lies a far more fundamental issue, namely how technology affects the distribution of power and the direction of a nation’s civilisation.

He highlighted that technological developments often move faster than the readiness of laws and institutions. This disparity creates grey areas that risk being exploited without adequate supervision, especially when technology begins to be used in decision-making that affects individual freedoms.

In this context, AI can no longer be viewed as a neutral system. When algorithms start determining legal decisions, assessing criminal risks, or processing citizens’ data on a large scale, the technology has entered the core of ethical and justice issues.

Yusril explained that the use of AI indeed opens up great opportunities in law enforcement. This technology can assist in managing case administration, accelerating digital evidence analysis, and improving early detection of potential crimes that were previously difficult to identify.

Additionally, AI can expand public access to legal services. AI-based systems enable the provision of legal information more quickly and evenly, even in areas that have previously been difficult to reach by conventional services.