You scan your face to unlock your smartphone. You use your fingerprint to unlock the password manager on your laptop. You scan your face once again as part of a double authentication process to access your company’s VPN server. Biometric security measures that a few decades ago would have only been featured in spy novels and action films as evidence of futuristic high-tech security systems are now a ubiquitous staple of daily life.
The latest trend in generative AI is the rise of “AI Assistants” or “Chatbots.” These tools are increasingly trained on internal company data to interact directly with consumers and aim to improve customer service by generating responses on behalf of the organization. However, this brings new legal challenges, especially regarding data privacy. Because “biometric” data or information is often broadly defined, compliance with privacy regulations becomes critical when chatbots and AI agents use voiceprints, cameras (capturing or processing hand or facial geometry) or other sensors to provide a personalized service. Companies should implement safeguards to meet legal requirements, avoid penalties, and secure insurance coverage to mitigate financial risks related to compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
In today’s News of Note, anxieties continue to grow over AI-generated art, effective cybersecurity for the high-tech era, and the impact of facial recognition and gunshot detection technology on human rights.
COVID-19 accelerated digital transformations across every industry. From the growth of e-commerce and food delivery services to virtual workspaces and online learning, a seismic shift towards digitalizing our day-to-day activities has become the new normal.
Internet & Social Media Law Blog