Are we moving in the right direction when it comes to responsible approaches for AI in surveillance?
No. 21: Bringing you the news that matters in video privacy and security
A note from our Editor
Hi all,
This week we focus on growing privacy concerns amongst consumers, employees and organisations alongside continued data breaches in Europe and the US.
There has been a huge data breach at Glovo, Europe's "Deliveroo" alongside revelations that thousands of Americans' personal records are regularly being requested by the US government.
Hong Kong's latest plans to tighten their privacy laws seems to be a positive step, but is Google and Facebook's threat to "quit" a good sign that these laws are privacy focused, or a cause for concern for these Big tech organisations' own practices?
There is similar concern being raised with the Police's use of AI to help survey online content. Although initial concern was aimed at the broad reach of surveillance through online content scraping, it seems that it has been carried out with data privacy in mind, and with great results. Is this the start of AI surveillance techniques that prioritise privacy and security in parallel? Are we starting to move in the right direction when it comes to responsible approaches for AI in surveillance?
As always, please let me know if you have any feedback on any of the articles or want to see any other topics covered.
Emma
News
Will Big tech quit Hong Kong?
Hong Kong's plans to change their privacy laws to help cover doxxing - the malicious act of spreading identifiable information online - has left many to speculate that big tech companies (such as Google and Facebook) will "quit". This is due to concerns surrounding how their own practices will be seen in the eyes of Hong Kong's data protection agencies.
The Guardian: Big tech companies threaten to quit Hong Kong over privacy law
BBC News: Hong Kong defends privacy law
The Independent: Privacy law could force out big tech investors
Thousands of Americans' records targeted regularly by US government
Microsoft says that it has received thousands of requests by the US government requesting access to Americans' data - most of which do not have proper legal justification. The news comes out in a hearing surrounding whether the same protective regulations should apply to cloud servers as it does to physical files.
IT Pro: Microsoft says it receives thousands of secret data requests each year from US government
FOX Business: Microsoft executive - targeting of Americans’ records by feds is ‘routine’
Can Police use AI to safely monitor social media?
Police are currently using AI technologies to help to monitor social media in relation to ongoing investigations and to survey any displays of hatred, harms or offensive content. However, there are concerns around the fact that they could easily be used for prohibited uses.
WIRED: This AI helps Police monitor social media - does it go too far?
Europe's Deliveroo equivalent - Glovo - fined for privacy and labour breaches
The Italian data protection agency has fined Glovo owned Foodinho for data and labour breaches against its employees, after major issues were found with its algorithms. Glovo are considering an appeal.
Reuters: Spain’s Glovo considers appeal after Italian regulator fines Foodinho breaches
Time to reevaluate the management of customer data privacy?
A couple of interesting articles on how companies are changing their thinking towards consumer data privacy. This includes gearing their privacy policies towards prioritising consent, and how AI is predicted to be used in the future of governing data privacy.
AI Snippet of the Week
Reinventing fashion through AI
AI shopping app THE YES has been developed to help personalise customers’ shopping experience online. Nicknamed the clothing version of “Tinder”, customers swipe to say yes or no on different clothing, to predict what people will want to wear and buy in the future.
Policy Updates
New EU law to allow surveillance of online messages to detect child abuse
The final version of the ePrivacy derogation has been released - a temporary measure set out by the European Parliament that will enable providers of electronic communication services to scan private online messages using approved technologies, in order to report any material depicting child sex abuse.
EUROACTIV: EU law allows screening of online messages to detect child abuse
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