ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DUE PROCESS
AUTHOR – NEGA.N, LLM STUDENT AT THE TAMIL NADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY
BEST CITATION – NEGA.N, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DUE PROCESS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (9) OF 2026, PG. 765-773, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
INTRODUCTION
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in modern criminal investigations, significantly reshaping traditional methods of policing, surveillance, evidence analysis, and crime prevention. Technologies such as facial recognition systems, predictive policing algorithms, biometric surveillance, digital forensics, automated decision-making tools, and machine learning systems are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies to identify suspects, analyze large volumes of data, and improve investigative efficiency. While AI offers advantages such as speed, accuracy, and enhanced crime detection capabilities, its growing integration into criminal justice systems has also raised serious legal, ethical, and constitutional concerns. Issues relating to algorithmic opacity, lack of transparency, biased decision-making, wrongful identification, and misuse of surveillance technologies challenge the principles of accountability, fairness, and due process. Furthermore, the extensive collection and monitoring of personal data through AI-driven systems raise concerns regarding privacy, equality, and protection against arbitrary state action, particularly in the absence of comprehensive legal regulation. In India, the increasing adoption of AI technologies in policing and criminal investigations highlights the urgent need for a balanced legal framework that ensures effective law enforcement while safeguarding constitutional rights and democratic values. This research paper therefore critically examines the role of Artificial Intelligence in criminal investigations with specific focus on the issues of transparency, accountability, and due process, while also analysing the need for regulatory safeguards and ethical AI governance in the digital age.