AI Ghost Witness: Court’s Use of Digital Avatar Sparks Legal Uproar

Resurrected for the Record

In what’s being described as a legal first, a Canadian courtroom presented testimony from a deceased road rage victim via an AI-generated avatar that recreated the man’s voice, mannerisms, and facial expressions. Developed by a documentary filmmaker, the avatar used interviews with the victim’s family along with AI tools to craft a hyper-realistic digital version of the man. The goal was to give the jury an emotional window into both the victim’s life and the tragedy of his loss. While the technology was not used as legal evidence, its presence in court introduced an emotionally charged element that blurred the lines between fact, storytelling, and virtual reality.

Emotions on Trial

Ethics experts and legal scholars have criticized the move, warning that AI-driven emotional reconstructions could distort juror perceptions and set a dangerous precedent for the justice system. Some likened it to emotional manipulation, arguing that such digital recreations risk overshadowing objective legal standards. Others say it could open the door to broader use of AI in courtrooms—from victims and suspects to witnesses—raising concerns about authenticity, consent, and fairness. While emotionally powerful, critics contend that AI-generated avatars may trade courtroom neutrality for spectacle, further complicating an already fragile justice process.