The Importance of Data Protection in the Artificial Intelligence Debate: Insights From Europe

2023-04-25 18:20:37

In the debate on artificial intelligence, the issue of data protection is probably the one that most inflames European states. As the European Union prepares legislation, France and Spain are investigating chatbot ChatGPT for a possible breach of data protection regulations, while Italy has blocked access to the site.

On the side of the Helvetii on the other hand, we choose rather to pose as an observer of what is put in place among our neighbors. The canton of Friborg follows what is happening at the federal level, while stressing the importance of this technology for the future. “We must, in my opinion, learn to live with artificial intelligences like ChatGPT”, indicates Marine Stoffel, cantonal data protection officer ad interim. The Fribourgeoise warns all the same: this technology is an opportunity which obviously entails risks.

An inevitable identification

“We must assume that sooner or later it will manage to identify us when we use it,” explains the cantonal data protection officer. “Either because we provide her with information regarding us directly, or because she manages to cross-check what we give her with other information that she can find in an accessible way on the internet.”

Caution is therefore called for. Giving out private or confidential information should be avoided as much as possible. “For example, ChatGPT is not suitable for writing a work certificate on a collaborator, writing a report for protective measures taken once morest a person, or writing evaluation reports concerning services.” Another example, in the case of students who would discover chatbots as part of their studies, Martine Stoffel recommends that teachers also raise awareness among parents, in order to prevent private information from being shared during homework.

Keep control over your data

If Switzerland does not currently have any regulations in place, it is not excluded that this will change in the future. But what might legislation look like to protect the data of the population? As an overview, we can turn to Italy. La Botte criticizes ChatGPT for not complying with European data protection regulations, for example by not verifying the age of minors. “Italy asked OpenAI, the company behind the conversational robot, to provide a whole series of information”, develops Martine Stoffel. “The State is asking in particular to put in place warnings so that minors cannot create an account, to inform the public to indicate how ChatGPT uses personal data or to create a process to allow users to correct false personal data. The Italian data protection authority is awaiting information on these points. Depending on the answers, the block might be lifted.”

It should be noted that on the Friborg side, it is already possible for people who have a legitimate interest to ask the public bodies which process their personal data to rectify them, destroy them or even refrain from communicating them to third parties. .

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