Snap , the maker of the popular Snapchat app , could face a fine of millions of pounds after being given a preliminary notice by the UK's data protection authority over its failure to assess the privacy risks its AI chatbot could pose to users, particularly children .
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) announced that the company failed to "adequately identify and assess the risks" to several million British users of My AI, including 13 to 17-year-olds.
In the UK, Snapchat has 21 million monthly active users and has proven particularly popular among younger people, with research firm Insider Intelligence estimating that 48% of users are aged 24 and under. Around 18% of users are aged 12 to 17.
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“The interim findings of our investigation suggest a worrying failure by Snap [Snapchat creator] to adequately identify and assess the privacy risks to children and other users before the launch of My AI,” said John Edwards, the information commissioner.
The regulator said Snap has until October 27 to file a response before a final decision on whether to take action.
"No conclusion should be drawn at this stage regarding a breach of data protection law," the ICO said.
If it is decided that Snapchat's AI chatbot is dangerous to British users' data, Snap will have to stop processing data in relation to My AI, which means it will have to be blocked for customers in the UK, until an "assessment risk" has been carried out for the service.
While the ICO's priority is to stop any potential privacy breaches and ensure My AI complies with applicable laws, there is also the possibility of a fine of up to 4% of the company's total turnover.
The My AI service is powered by GPT technology from OpenAI , creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT .
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“We are clear that organisations need to consider the risks associated with artificial intelligence, alongside the benefits,” Edwards said. “Today’s preliminary notice shows that we will take steps to protect the privacy rights of consumers in the UK.”
Snap launched the My AI feature for users of Snapchat+, its subscription service, in February and shortly thereafter, in April, made it available to other users.
“We are carefully reviewing the ICO’s interim decision,” a Snap spokesperson said. “Like them, we are committed to protecting our users’ privacy… In line with our standard approach to product development, the AI tool went through a robust legal and privacy review process before being made available to the public. We will continue to work constructively with the ICO to ensure they are comfortable with our risk assessment processes.”
AI chatbots and privacy risks
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses are leveraging all new advanced capabilities to achieve increased efficiency, performance, and customer satisfaction. AI chatbots are a case in point, which have driven exponential growth in customer service.
But to take a deeper look, it is necessary to understand the value of data. In the digital environment, data is “gold”. Protecting it is therefore a primary goal.
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This is where the role of the UK data regulator comes in, currently examining Snapchat and its AI chatbot, to make sure that British citizens' data is safe.
Data security
Enforcing strict legal rules and creating transparent protocols are essential steps in the right direction. It is very important to develop data protection standards , and these must be strictly monitored. In addition to adhering to the rules, it is necessary to encourage systematic feedback and supervision by the authorities. The implementation of artificial intelligence should not be at the expense of user privacy, but should be a continuous source of prosperity and progress.
Source: www.theguardian.com/technology
