Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  

































Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 History  



1.1  Department of Justice Canada  







2 Notable Cases  



2.1  Government of Canada Reforms  







3 References  














Draft:Botler AI

















Draft
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 
















Appearance
   

 






From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 




Botler AI is a Montreal-based Canadian Artificial Intelligence company that helps users navigate the legal system...[1]. Launched in 2017 by Amir Morv and Ritika Dutt, Botler offers a free online tool which provides users who are unaware of their legal rights with information and guidance[2][3].

Botler is known for its role in unveiling misconduct in the Government of Canada's procurement practices. Botler's findings have prompted numerous investigations, including by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police[4][5].

History

[edit]

Botler's first AI was trained on over 300,000 U.S. and Canadian legal documents to help individuals identify and enforce their legal rights, without fear of judgment​​[2][6]

Launched during the height of the #MeToo movement, the tool initially focused on sexual harassment with a goal of creating "a general artificial intelligence that would help the average person with any legal issue.”[6][7]

Department of Justice Canada

[edit]

In 2020, Botler launched an expanded misconduct detection system in the form of an anonymous chatbot which provided users with an explanation of the law and relevant resources.[8][9]

In March 2021, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced the Government of Canada's support for Botler AI to assist complainants of sexual harassment in the workplace[10]. The initiative, entitled Botler for Citizens and implemented with the support of the Department of Justice Canada, established an Artificial Intelligence-powered hybrid legal service delivery model[10].

Notable Cases

[edit]

On October 4, 2023, the RCMP confirmed to The Globe and Mail that they "are investigating a file referred from the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) that is based on allegations brought to their attention by Botler”.[4]

In 2019, GCStrategies’s managing partner, Kristian Firth, reached out to Botler on behalf of his client, the CBSA, to solicit their misconduct detection chatbot[4][11]. After interactions with GCStrategies, Dalian Enterprises and Coradix Technology Consulting, the three main contractors involved in developing the controversial ArriveCAN app, Dutt and Morv alerted the CBSA to questionable contracting practices in federal government procurement in September, 2021, and again in November, 2022. [4][12][13].

In response to Botler's November 2022 report, the CBSA launched an internal review and referred the matter to the RCMP.[4]. During testimony before a parliamentary committee, the CBSA's President stated that the CBSA investigation to date has raised some concerns and shows "that there was a pattern of persistent collaboration between certain officials and GCStrategies... to circumvent or ignore certain established processes and roles and responsibilities”[11]

The Auditor General of Canada, which extended its study into ArriveCAN following the Botler revelations, found that GCStrategies was directly involved in setting narrow terms for a request for proposal for a $25-million government contract it ultimately won[14]. The firm, which has just two employees, charges the government a commission of between 15 per cent and 30 per cent of each contract's value[15].

The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman of Canada found “numerous examples” where GCStrategies “had simply copied and pasted” the required work experience to meet contracting requirements[16]

To date, more than a dozen probes have been launched into the matter, including by the government, parliamentary committees, independent watchdogs and law-enforcement agencies.[5]

On April 17, 2024, GCStrategies' Firth was the first person summoned in over a century to answer questions before Members of Parliament in the House of Commons[17][18]. During his appearance, Firth testified that the RCMP had raided "my property to obtain electronic goods surrounding the Botler allegations"[19]

Government of Canada Reforms

[edit]

One day after The Globe reported that the RCMP is investigating allegations of misconduct, the federal government responded by announcing new guidelines from the Treasury Board of Canada aimed at cutting back on the use of private consultants[20].

In March 2024, Public Services and Procurement Canada announced its suspension of the respective security statuses of GCStrategies, Dalian and Coradix, barring them from participating in all federal procurements.[21]. Records show that the total value of contracts awarded to the three companies amounts to more than $1 Billion[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Enos, Elysha (December 27, 2017). "How a Montreal-made online tool helps sexual harassment victims navigate the legal system". CBC News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  • ^ a b "Victims of Sexual Harassment Have a New Resource: AI". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "New technology aims to give victims of sexual violence a more positive reporting experience". The Globe and Mail. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b c d e "RCMP probes alleged misconduct in outsourced CBSA contract". The Globe and Mail. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b "Why did the ArriveCan app cost so much? What we've learned so far in the federal outsourcing scandal". The Globe and Mail. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b Dwoskin, Elizabeth; McGregor, Jena (2021-12-05). "Sexual Harassment Inc: How the #MeToo movement is sparking a wave of start-ups". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ Silverberg, David (2018-01-19). "Applying AI to the #MeToo landscape". McGill News. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "Canadian AI-powered legal response tool helps guide victims of harassment". CTVNews. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ McCabe, Samantha (2021-03-10). "AI Launched in Canada to Help Tackle Workplace Harassment". Vice. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b Canada, Department of Justice (2021-03-03). "Government of Canada supports initiative to address workplace sexual harassment and improve access to justice in Canada". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b "IT staffing firm invited federal officials to virtual whisky tasting, off-site meetings, records show". The Globe and Mail. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "Senior CBSA officials say initial misconduct allegations were not raised with them". The Globe and Mail. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ a b "Three firms tied to ArriveCan app got $1-billion in federal contracts, Ottawa reveals". The Globe and Mail. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "Auditor-General's ArriveCan report finds 'glaring disregard' for basic management practices". The Globe and Mail. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ Major, Darren (21 February 2024). "What is GC Strategies? A closer look at the company linked to the ArriveCan controversy". CBC News.
  • ^ "ArriveCan bids regularly listed subcontractors who never did work, procurement watchdog finds". The Globe and Mail. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "Debates of the House of Commons - Hansard No. 301 - 44-1, Pg. 16" (PDF). House of Commons Canada. April 17, 2024.
  • ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique- (2024-04-17). "In extremely rare move, House of Commons set to question ArriveCan contractor". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  • ^ "GC Strategies head says RCMP searched his property - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ "Ottawa seeks to scale back outsourcing with new guidelines". The Globe and Mail. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  • ^ Staff, News (2024-03-06). "Federal procurement department punishes companies that worked on ArriveCan app". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved 2024-05-31. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)

  • Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Botler_AI&oldid=1235117993"

    Categories: 
    Draft articles on software
    Draft articles on North America
    Draft articles on STEM
    AfC submissions on organisations existing today
    Pending AfC submissions
    AfC pending submissions by age/6 days ago
    AfC submissions by date/17 July 2024
    AfC submissions by date/05 June 2024
    AfC submissions by date/31 May 2024
    Hidden categories: 
    CS1 maint: url-status
    CS1 Canadian French-language sources (fr-ca)
    CS1 errors: generic name
    AfC submissions declined as not written in a neutral point of view
    Declined AfC submissions
     



    This page was last edited on 17 July 2024, at 19:21 (UTC).

    Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



    Privacy policy

    About Wikipedia

    Disclaimers

    Contact Wikipedia

    Code of Conduct

    Developers

    Statistics

    Cookie statement

    Mobile view



    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki