Warning about GenAI imagery: “tech advancement shouldn’t come at the expense of privacy, dignity, safety”

Dozens of data protection authorities from across the globe have published a joint statement on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), voicing concerns about the risks posed by photorealistic images created with this technology.

“While AI can bring meaningful benefits for individuals and society, recent developments have enabled the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery, defamatory depictions, and other harmful content featuring real individuals. We are especially concerned about potential harms to children and other vulnerable groups, such as cyber-bullying and/or exploitation,” data protection authorities from 61 regions worldwide wrote in a joint statement on AI-generated imagery.

GenAI tools are receiving a lot of heat lately. For example, last month, there were several incidents in which xAI’s chatbot Grok “undressed” women and changed their clothing into bikinis.

X immediately posted an apology and promised to do whatever it takes to combat the sharing of inappropriate images and videos on X, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM). X’s owner, Elon Musk, promised to take action against users who use his platform to upload and spread illegal content.

Nonetheless, regulators across Europe, including France’s Public Prosecutor’s Office and British media regulator Ofcom, have announced plans to investigate the creation and distribution of sexualized images of women and children on social media platform X.

The signatories of the joint statement remind users of GenAI tools that the creation of non-consensual intimate images may lead to criminal prosecution. They argue that “fundamental principles” should guide users of GenAI systems.

“We call on organizations to engage proactively with regulators, implement robust safeguards from the outset, and ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of privacy, dignity, safety, and other fundamental rights, particularly for the most vulnerable of our global society,” the endorsers conclude.

William Malcolm, Executive Director Regulatory Risk & Innovation at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), says that public trust in GenAI tools is one of the core principles of this technology.

“People should be able to benefit from AI without fearing that their identity, dignity, or safety is under threat. AI already plays a large role in all our lives, and everybody has a right to expect that AI systems handling their personal data will do so with respect. Responsible innovation means putting people first: anticipating the risks and building in meaningful safeguards to ensure autonomy, transparency, and control,” Malcolm said in a public statement.

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