PREDICTIVE POLICING AND THE RULE OF LAW: RISKS OF DIGITAL PROFILING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

Abstract

The use of predictive technologies in policing practice is increasingly the subject of legal and ethical debates. This paper explores the phenomenon of predictive policing—a model that, through algorithms and the analysis of large datasets, forecasts locations, times, and potential perpetrators of criminal acts. Although this approach is presented as a tool for more effective crime prevention, it raises serious concerns regarding the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the principles of due process. Particular attention is given to the emergence of digital profiling, that is, the selective and potentially discriminatory treatment of citizens based on algorithmic predictions. The paper critically analyses the risks these systems pose to the right to privacy, the presumption of innocence, and equal access to justice. Through a comparative legal review of case law, the authors highlight the need to introduce mechanisms of transparency, human oversight over algorithms, and institutional accountability. The conclusion emphasises that predictive policing can only be acceptable if it develops within a framework that consistently protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals.