Criminal Code Reform During the AI Revolution to Counter the New Form of Colonialism of Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

The rapid and dramatic transformation in society, economy, and media that has been observed during the initial stage of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution has already begun. The rise in misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and lies has affected many nations. This is evident in English-speaking countries with histories of colonialism. The increase in denial of the flourishing culture of Indigenous Nations before immigrant contact, the denial of the history of colonialism (e.g., residential schools), and the increase in misrepresenting Indigenous peoples to get jobs, school admissions, funding, business contracts, and epistemic violence are also very alarming. By providing the background, history, and comparing the plight of Indigenous people with Jewish people during the Nazi era, and the current age misinformation and disinformation, this policy analysis argues for criminal code reform in the form of harsher penalties and specific crime categories for colonialism denial to deter and counter the growing threat to Indigenous culture, identity, art, economy, and sovereignty. It is ultimately argued that Indigenous misrepresentation and denialism are a new form of colonialism and genocide during the age of the AI revolution. Governments with a previous history of colonialism have moral, legal, and treaty obligations to protect Indigenous peoples’ identity, culture, sovereignty, history, and economy from revictimization during the age of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.