UK Watchdog Urges Tech Industry to Embed Data Protection in AI Development, amid Rising Data Breaches
More than 3,000 cyber breaches were reported to the ICO, which regulates the collection and use of personal data, during 2023.
Technology companies must “embed” data protection into every stage of development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in order to provide maximum protection for people's personal information, the head of the UK's data watchdog has warned.
The IEA found that when AI uses personal data, it falls within the scope of existing data protection and transparency laws. This includes using personal data to train, test, or deploy artificial intelligence systems.
John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner, will caution an audience of technology leaders: “As leaders in your field, I want to make clear that you must think about data protection at every stage of development, and you must ensure that your developers keep in mind This too.”, as part of a discourse on privacy, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director, Zoho UK, said: “As AI continues to revolutionize business processes, it is important that data protection is built into the design. Businesses must implement data protection at every stage of AI development, ensuring that Privacy is “built-in” to protect internal and customer data.
According to Zoho's Digital Health Study, 36% of UK businesses surveyed said data privacy plays a critical role in their business success. However, only 42% of respondents said they adhere to all industry regulations and guidelines. This discrepancy shows the need for increased education so that companies can be more responsible about protecting customer data in all aspects of data, not just AI.
Commercial exploitation of customer data is common in the industry, but we say it's unethical. We believe that the customer owns their data, not us, and that using it only to enhance the products we offer is the right thing to do. This approach ensures compliance with legislation and builds trust, which strengthens customer relationships.
Demand for ethically oriented data practices is expected to grow stronger as the use of artificial intelligence accelerates. Companies that do not center their policies around the best interests of customers may find customers looking elsewhere for a more responsible alternative.
