Gideon Christian

Dr. Gideon Christian

Positions

Assistant Professor (AI and Law)

Faculty of Law

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: 403.220.5259

Location

Office: MFH3335B

Background

Educational Background

Ph.D. University of Ottawa, 2014

LLM Law & Tech, University of Ottawa, 2008

LLB University of Lagos, 2002

Biography

Biography

Gideon Christian is an Assistant Professor (AI and Law) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. He obtained his law degree (LLB) from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, an LLM (specialization in Law and Technology), and a PhD from the University of Ottawa. During his doctoral studies, he was a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) - Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Doctoral Scholar.

Prior to joining the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary in August 2019, Dr. Christian worked part-time as an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, and full time as Legal Counsel with the National Litigation Sector at the federal Department of Justice (DOJ), where he deployed technology in high-profile litigation involving the Government of Canada. He is currently a director with the boards of the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) and Lexum. In 2024, he was named by the Calgary Herald as one of the Top 20 Compelling Calgarians.

Research Activities:

Dr. Christian’s research interests are in artificial intelligence and law, legal impacts of new and emerging technologies, among other areas. His research seeks to identify elements of racial bias in laws, policies, and in emerging technologies. His current research seeks to develop the concept of algorithmic racism, which is defined as race-based bias arising from the use of AI-powered tools in decision-making, resulting in unfair outcomes to individuals from a particular segment of society characterized by race. Dr. Christian has appeared before the House of Commons Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) as an expert in the use of AI in immigration decisions.

Current Research Works:

  • Unmasking racial bias in artificial intelligence facial recognition technology.
  • Ethical guidelines for the use of Generative AI in the legal profession. 
  • Legal framework for the use of artificial intelligence technology in recidivism risk assessment in the Canadian criminal justice system.
  • In search of greener data: environmental impact of artificial intelligence technologies.
  • Breaking a legal monopoly: Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) in the age of artificial intelligence technologies.

Research

Areas of Research

Artificial Intelligence and Law, Racial bias in AI, Environmental impacts of new and emerging technologies

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
LAW 505 Civil Procedure Winter
LAW 510 Ethical Lawyering Fall
LAW 693 eLitigation Fall
LAW 602 L01 Criminal Trial Advocacy Winter
LAW 602 L02 Civil Trial Advocacy Winter
Data 691 Legal Data and Analytics Summer

Awards

  • National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) Grant ($916,000) (Co-Applicant), National Cybersecurity Consortium. 2023
  • OBA Foundation Chief Justice of Ontario Fellowship in Research Award ($15,000), Ontario Bar Association Foundation. 2023
  • Government of Canada, OPC Contributions Program 2023-24 ($50,000), Office of the Privacy Commissioner Canada. 2023
  • New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration ($250,000) (Co-Principal Investigator), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. 2022
  • Canadian Foundation for Legal Research Grant , Canadian Foundation for Legal Research (CFLR). 2022
  • Law for the Future Fund Grant ($16,000), Canadian Bar Association (CBA). 2021
  • Top 20 Compelling Calgarians , Calgary Herald. 2024
  • Alberta Newcomer Recognition Award , Government of Alberta. 2023
  • Howard Tidswell Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, University of Calgary Faculty of Law. 2022
  • Canada Top-25 Immigrant Award (Nominated), 2023
  • University of Calgary Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Award (Nominated), 2021

Publications