The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, AP) is ramping up scrutiny over the handling of personal data by organizations utilizing generative artificial intelligence (AI). A focal point of this inquiry is its application in apps targeted at young children.
Actions Taken by AP
AP is planning multiple actions to ensure the ethical use of AI chatbots in children’s apps. Recently, the authority queried a tech company about the transparency of a chatbot integrated into their popular children’s app. The aim is to ascertain how transparent the chatbot is in terms of user data handling.
Rapid Growth of AI Applications
Generative AI technologies are advancing at an unprecedented rate, broadening their use across various sectors. AP has identified significant risks in offering AI chatbot applications to children, citing that young users are often unaware of potential privacy issues.
Questions Posed to Tech Companies
The authority is questioning the tech company on the app’s data usage transparency and if proper considerations have been made regarding data retention periods. The answers to these questions will determine any further actions by AP.
Previous Initiatives
AP had earlier announced actions against organizations that use generative AI. This summer, the authority also sought clarification from OpenAI regarding their ChatGPT chatbot and how personal data is handled during system training.
Collaboration with European Entities
Furthermore, AP is part of the Taskforce ChatGPT, under the umbrella of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), amplifying its regulatory efforts at a continental level.
What is Generative AI?
Generative AI creates text or images based on specific commands. These AI models are trained using large sets of data, often collected through web scraping. The questions users ask can also be a data source, sometimes containing personal information like marital disputes or medical issues.
