- DPC working in conjunction with its EU/EEA peer regulators, investigated Google to regulate whether EU users’ personal data is processed in the development of its foundational AI model.
- After the Irish regulator filed a lawsuit, social media platform X agreed not to use personal data collected from EU users to train its AI systems.
OUR TAKE
The top EU privacy regulator’s investigation into the compliance of Google’s AI systems underscores the emphasis on protecting EU users’ personal data and privacy. In the process of building and developing AI models, user data, as an essential resource, carries the risk of misuse and leakage. The launch of this investigation will help internet companies regulate how they handle user data, ensuring a balanced development between technology and human concerns.
-Tori Cai, BTW reporter
What happened
On Thursday, top EU privacy regulator investigated whether Google has adequately protected the personal data of European Union users before using it to help develop its foundational AI models. The probe concerns the Alphabet Inc unit’s Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2). Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) issued a statement saying: “This statutory inquiry forms part of the wider efforts of the DPC, working in conjunction with its EU/EEA (European Economic Area) peer regulators, in regulating the processing of the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects in the development of AI models and systems.”
Since the majority of major US internet companies operate their EU business out of Ireland, the DPC is responsible for and entitled to carry out this investigation. The focus of the investigation is whether Google, as the world’s leading search engine, has mishandled the personal data of EU users during the development of its AI models.
After the DPC filed a lawsuit, social media platform X agreed last week not to use EU users’ personal data to train its AI systems, and EU users now have the option to withdraw consent.
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Why it’s important
With the rapid development of AI, personal data plays a crucial role in training AI models. This data is not only a resource for technological development but also touches upon critical issues such as user privacy rights, data security, and sovereignty.
This investigation highlights that the proper handling and transparency of data are crucial when internet companies develop AI technologies. Mishandling user data could not only harm individual privacy but also spark a wider trust crisis, impacting the global adoption and development of AI. Through this investigation of Google, the EU is sending a clear message, “technological progress should not come at the cost of user privacy, and there must be a balance between technological advancement and data ethics.”
Following this investigation, the importance of data privacy protection in the AI field is likely to increase. As AI continues to permeate various industries, global regulations surrounding data privacy are expected to tighten.
