Dr. Gideon Christian
Positions
University Excellence Research Chair (AI and Law)
University of Calgary
Associate Professor (AI and Law)
Faculty of Law
Contact information
Phone number
Office: 403.220.5259
Location
Office: MFH4317
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 Associate Professor and University Excellence Research Chair in AI and Law at the Faculty of Law, 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
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
- The New Jim Crow: Unmasking Racial Bias in AI Facial Recognition Technology within the Canadian Immigration System (Forthcoming). Gideon Christian. McGill Law Journal. (2024)
- Framework for the Use of AI in Criminal Justice Recidivism Risk Assessment. Gideon Christian. Canadian Journal of Law and Technology . (2024)
- A “Century” Overdue – Revisiting the Doctrine of Spoliation in the Age of Electronic Documents. Gideon Christian. Alberta Law Review. (2022)
- Predictive Coding: Adopting and Adapting Artificial Intelligence in Civil Litigation . Gideon Christian. Canadian Bar Review. (2019)
- Ethical and Legal Issues in eDiscovery of Facebook Evidence in Civil Litigation. Gideon Christian. Canadian Journal of Law & Technology. (2017)
- Trade Measures for Regulating Transboundary Movement of Electronic Waste. Gideon Christian. Utrecht Journal of International and European Law. (2017)
- A New Approach to Data Security Breaches. Gideon Christian. Canadian Journal of Law & Technology. (2009)
- Open Access Initiative and the Developing World. Gideon Christian. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science. (2008)
- International E-Discovery: A Global Handbook of Law and Technology. Candice Chan-Glasgow, Gideon Christian and Ilan Tsekhman. 113 - 130. (2021)
- #AI Facial Recognition Technology in the Retail Industry. Gideon Christian. ABlawg. (2024)
- AI facial recognition technology: the black box hurting Black people (Op-Ed). Gideon Christian. Toronto Star. (2023)
- Canada Study Permit Litigation – Critical Analysis of Inconsistent Jurisprudence on Financial Requirement. Gideon Christian. Slaw.ca. (2022)
- Artificial Intelligence, Algorithmic Racism and the Canadian Criminal Justice System. Gideon Christian. Slaw.ca. (2020)
In the News
- CBC News Network - Canada Border Services Agency Plans use to Facial Recognition to Track Deportees . (2024)
- Racial bias safeguards missing from Bill C-27's Artificial Intelligence Data Act draft, says U of C professor. CBC News. (2024)
- Differential Outcomes in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Decisions (Parliamentary Appearance). House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration . (2022)
- Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Students (Parliamentary Appearance). House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. (2022)
- Life as an international student in Canada meant crushing poverty. But it also taught me resilience. CBC First Person. (2023)
- Law professor tackles racial bias in AI facial recognition technology . (2023)
- AI bias researcher. (2023)
- African students face higher financial burden, lower acceptance rates to study in Canada. (2022)
- ‘The concept of solidarity is a lie’: Why these empty chairs at AIDS 2022 have Canada under fire. (2022)
- Building relationships with students online. (2021)
- Canada urged to investigate decline in Nigerian study permit approvals. (2021)
- Weaving AI into the Law. (2020)
- University Calgary law school e-litigation course points to a future of conducting law virtually. (2020)
- Public comments of politicians on Maurice case prove popular, but are they unethical?. (2019)
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