Expanding the artificial intelligence-data protection debate

[Extract] Artificial intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly in recent years. From narrow applications to translate documents, filter email, and recognize faces and voices to more ambitious uses, such as, in the words of the European Commission’s recent report Artificial Intelligence for Europe, ‘helping us to solve some of the world's biggest challenges: from treating chronic diseases or reducing fatality rates in traffic accidents to fighting climate change or anticipating cybersecurity threats’,1 the capabilities of AI now and in the foreseeable future promise widespread and substantial benefits for individuals, institutions, and society. At the same time, these technological innovations raise important issues, including significant questions about the tension between AI and data protection laws.

In recent months, a great deal of ink has been spilled on AI and data protection. Some nations have issued what appear to be duelling reports, with governments focusing on how to advance AI through national and regional AI strategies and incentives, while data protection authorities address the importance of ensuring that privacy is protected in the AI context. Industry, advocacy groups, and academics have added to the debate. Most agree that AI is important and often beneficial on the one hand, but that data privacy must be protected on the other. But that is often as far as the consensus extends.