ICO to examine legality of using personal data to train generative AI models

16 January 2024, 10:54

A ChapGPT logo is seen on a smartphone
A ChapGPT logo is seen on a smartphone. Picture: PA

The UK’s data protection regulator has launched a consultation series around the technology.

The UK’s data protection watchdog has launched a consultation series on how data protection law should apply to the development and use of generative AI apps.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the first consultation would look at whether it was lawful to train generative AI models – such as ChatGPT – on personal data scraped from the web.

The ICO said it was seeking views from across the tech and AI industry, as well as from legal advisers, consultants and civil society groups, with the aim of helping the regulator provide the sector with clarity on how to abide by data protection law when using the technology.

Generative AI technology can be used to create new content – including words, pictures, video, computer code and music – from scratch, but based on large amounts of data the program has been trained on, much of which is often scraped from internet and fed into the system.

The ChatGPT website
Critics have raised concerns about the number of areas around generative AI (PA)

Over the last 12 months and since the public launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, generative AI has become one of the most on-trend pieces of technology in the sector, with Google, Microsoft and others quickly moving to release their own chatbots and build generative AI tools into their platforms.

Critics have raised concerns about the number of areas around generative AI, including its ability to create misinformation if it has been trained on inaccurate data, as well as the potential privacy concerns around personal data being used in such training.

The ICO said its first consultation, which will be open to hearing views from stakeholders until March 1, would examine when and if it is lawful to train generative AI models on personal data.

Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: “The impact of generative AI can be transformative for society if it’s developed and deployed responsibly.

“This call for views will help the ICO provide industry with certainty regarding its obligations and safeguard people’s information rights and freedoms.”

The ICO said future consultations, which will be launched throughout the first half of the year, would also look at areas such as the accuracy of generative AI results.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

People ride an upward escalator next to the Dior store at the Icon Siam shopping mall on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luxury fashion giant Dior latest high-profile retailer to be hit by cyber attack as customer data accessed

A plane spotter with binoculars from behind watching a British Airways plane landing

‘Flying taxis’ could appear in UK skies as early as 2028, minister says

Apple App Store

Take on Apple and Google to boost UK economy, think tank says

A survey of more than 1,000 employers found that around one in eight thought AI would give them a competitive edge and would lead to fewer staff.

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Hands on a laptop showing an AI search

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Music creators and politicians take part in a protest calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.

Creatives face a 'kind-of apocalyptic moment’ over AI concerns, minister says

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Chimps use medicinal plants to treat each other's wounds and practice 'self-care' as scientists hail fascinating discovery

Close up of a person's hands on the laptop keyboard

Ofcom investigating pornography site over alleged Online Safety Act breaches

The Monzo app on a smartphone

Monzo customers can cancel bank transfers if they quickly spot an error

Co-op sign

Co-op to re-stock empty shelves as it recovers from major hack

The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages.

Social media platforms are failing to protect women and girls from harm, new research reveals

Peter Kyle leaves 10 Downing Street, London

Government-built AI tool used to cut admin work for human staff

In its last reported annual headcount in June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers

Microsoft axes 6,000 jobs despite strong profits in recent quarters

Airbnb logo

Airbnb unveils revamp as it expands ‘beyond stays’ to challenge hotel sector

A car key on top of a Certificate of Motor Insurance and Policy Schedule

Drivers losing thousands to ghost broker scams – the red flags to watch out for

Marks and Spencer cyber attack

M&S customers urged to ‘stay vigilant’ for fraud after data breach confirmed