The Post Office Horizon Scandal🔗

Introduction🔗

Over 20 years ago, Fujitsu, a big company in Japan, made a software called Horizon for the UK Post Office. This software was used in many local post offices to manage money and parcels. It was a huge project, the biggest of its kind in Europe at that time. However, the software had serious problems, causing big issues for many workers.

The Problem with Horizon🔗

The Horizon system was supposed to help post office workers manage their accounts. But, it had errors and sometimes showed that money was missing when it wasn't. This led to accusations against many workers, saying they stole money or did something wrong with the accounts. They had to either pay back the missing money or face legal action. Because of this, over 700 people were taken to court between 2000 and 2014, and many lives were ruined. Some people even lost their homes and relationships, and a few took their own lives.

Fujitsu, the company that made the software, knew about these problems early on but didn't do enough to fix them. This situation highlights a big issue: the law in England and Wales used to trust computers too much, thinking they couldn't make mistakes. This made it very hard for people to defend themselves if a computer system like Horizon accused them of something.

The Law and Computer Errors🔗

One of the biggest problems in this scandal was the law's assumption that computer systems are always right. If someone wanted to challenge the computer's evidence, they had to prove the system was used or operated wrongly. But getting this proof was very hard. Many people accused by the Horizon system didn't know how to get the information they needed to defend themselves.

A Need for Change🔗

Some experts believe we need to change how we handle computer evidence in court. They suggest that in legal cases, all important information about the software should be shared. This includes data, code, and reports on how the system is checked for errors. This way, people can better defend themselves if something goes wrong.

Winning Against the Odds🔗

In 2019, a group of people who were wrongly accused fought back with the help of IT experts. They managed to get the necessary evidence and won their case against the Post Office. However, many others who tried to fight their cases alone were pushed to settle out of court and keep quiet about it. This kept the truth hidden.

Transparency and Fairness🔗

Experts argue that we can explain how IT systems work in court without giving away company secrets. There are tools and methods to show how decisions are made by software, which can help make things more transparent and fair.

Looking Back to Look Forward🔗

In the 1980s, the law didn't just trust what computers said. People had to prove that computer-generated information was reliable to use it in court. This changed in 1999 because computers got better. But now, with even more complex systems and AI, we've gone too far in trusting technology.

As AI becomes more common in our lives, affecting everything from banking to healthcare, it's crucial to question the reliability of computer evidence. We need to ensure mistakes like the Horizon scandal don't happen again.

Learning from the Past🔗

The Horizon scandal is a warning about putting too much trust in technology. It shows the need for laws that understand computers and AI can make mistakes. By making sure important information about how these systems work is shared in court, we can protect people's rights and prevent injustices. We must learn from the past to ensure a fairer future for everyone involved with technology.

credit https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00168-8