Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef has said prosecutors themselves will continue to make decisions on whether and how to prosecute cases, even as the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) introduces artificial intelligence (AI) under its “PGO 2.0” digitalisation project.
Speaking on PSM News’ Raajje Miadhu programme about the digitalisation of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Prosecutor General addressed concerns that introducing AI could give the technology authority to make decisions in cases. He said the Office would use AI only as an assistant to support prosecutors in their work.
The Prosecutor General’s Office handles all matters relating to criminal prosecution in the Maldives. Prosecutor General Abbas said prosecutors currently spend considerable time gathering information for cases and can also face difficulties obtaining all the information they need.
He said an AI assistant would allow prosecutors to access available case information within a shorter period, making it easier for them to reach decisions based on that information. The system would draw on information held by the Office from 2008 to the present, helping prosecutors and the Prosecutor General make better decisions and making it easier to establish justice.
Despite the greater role technology will play in this process, Prosecutor General Abbas stressed that AI would not make decisions on cases. Prosecutors and the Prosecutor General would continue to hold that responsibility.
The introduction of AI has also raised questions about its potential impact on the jobs of prosecutors and other employees. Prosecutor General Abbas said the initiative does not aim to reduce staff. Instead, he said AI would reduce the time prosecutors spend on their work and allow employees to perform their duties more effectively.
The AI system forms part of PGO 2.0, which the Office expects to complete in July 2028. Prosecutor General Abbas said that once the project concludes, the Prosecutor General’s Office would operate at the highest level of digitalisation permitted by law.
As part of the project, the Office will also introduce several measures to protect the personal information of individuals involved in cases submitted to it. Prosecutor General Abbas said PGO 2.0 would also establish arrangements to make services more easily accessible to the public and parties within the legal sector.