The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection watchdog, has initiated a consultation series looking into the application of data protection law to GenAI technology.
This latest instalment, the third in the series, concentrates on assessing the accuracy of outputs generated by AI models and the pivotal role of precise training data in shaping these outcomes.
The ICO has underscored the potential ramifications of reliance on generative AI models, highlighting the risk for misinformation, reputational harm, and other consequences.
“In a world where misinformation is growing, we cannot allow misuse of generative AI to erode trust in the truth. Organisations developing and deploying generative AI must comply with data protection law – including our expectations on accuracy of personal information,” said John Edwards, information commissioner.
The consultation comes just ahead of a number of significant elections, where GenAI is already highlighted as a significant risk to the sanctity of truthful information in the political sphere.
This call for consultation coincides with the UK information commissioner’s outreach efforts in Silicon Valley, where discussions with leading tech firms are underway to reinforce regulatory expectations regarding generative AI.
Additionally, the ICO is aiming to address concerns surrounding children’s privacy and online tracking within the tech industry.
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Having previously explored the legality of web scraping for AI model training and scrutinised the application of the purpose limitation principle to generative AI, the ICO is now soliciting feedback on information rights and controllership in the realm of generative AI.
The ICO is looking for engagement and input from a diverse array of participants including developers, users, legal advisors, civil society groups, and public bodies with a vested interest in generative AI. The consultation remains open until May 10, 2024, inviting robust discourse on the critical issues at hand.
