INDEPENDENT LENS presents “Coded Bias” and “Philly D.A.”
INDEPENDENT LENS presented two programs to the Television Critics Association during the Winter Press Tour, “Coded Bias” and “Philly D.A.”
“Coded Bias” follows MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini's work on facial recognition software and its inability to accurately identify darker-skinned faces.
The film follows as she embarks on an investigation that uncovers widespread bias lurking in the algorithms that shape the technology powering our lives.
To discuss the film, which premieres Monday, March 22, Joy Buolamwini joined Shalini Kantayya (director and producer) and Lois Vossen (series executive producer).
In addition, INDEPENDENT LENS presented “Philly D.A,” a new documentary series following Philadelphia’s District Attorney, Larry Krasner and his work to change the criminal justice system.
In 2017, Philadelphia had one of the highest incarceration rates of any major city in the United States. When civil rights attorney Larry Krasner mounted a longshot campaign to become District Attorney, he ran on a bold pledge: to end mass incarceration by changing the culture of the criminal justice system. He shocked the establishment by winning in a landslide.
Now, the bureaucrats he spent his campaign denigrating are his co-workers; the police he alienated are his rank-and-file law enforcers. Krasner’s unapologetic promise to use the power of the DA’s office for sweeping change is what got him elected; now that he’s in office, that same stubbornness threatens to alienate those he needs to work with the most.
To discuss the series and its topics coming to PBS on April 20, Larry Krasner (District Attorney of Philadelphia) was joined Lisa Harvey (Chief of the Philadelphia Family Court, Juvenile Branch and film subject), Ted Passon (director), Capt. Javier Rodriguez (Philadelphia Police Department, 25th District and film subject) and LaTonya Myers (activist, Bail Navigator and film subject).
