Dutch regulator warns users are “pouring their hearts into chatbots” over data risks
People are unknowingly sharing personal and sensitive information with chatbots. This information can never be retrieved, but it also makes a handful of tech companies powerful and influential. The Dutch data protection authority urges greater awareness.
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The Dutch data protection authority warns users are sharing highly personal and sensitive information with AI chatbots.
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The Dutch data protection authority warns users are sharing highly personal and sensitive information with AI chatbots.
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The watchdog says personal data has become the “raw material” of AI systems, giving tech companies growing influence.
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Concern is rising in Europe over dependence on foreign tech companies and AI infrastructure.
That’s what Aleid Wolfsen, Chairman of the Dutch data protection authority (AP), says in an interview with Trouw.
Wolfsen is most concerned about the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically the use of personal information to train AI models.
In the interview, he states that personal information has become the “raw material” that’s being used to train chatbots. And once an AI model is fed with personal details and information, it can’t be undone.
However, that realization hasn’t fully sunk in yet.
“People are pouring their hearts and souls into those chatbots, but they’ll never get that data back. And it makes tech companies extremely powerful and influential. What can be used for good can also be used for evil,” Wolfsen says.
For quite some time, there’s been a debate about Europe’s dependency on American tech companies. According to Wolfsen, Europe must take control so that Europeans can once again decide for themselves what happens to their data.
“If Trump really wants to, the entire government and the business sector in the Netherlands will come to a standstill tomorrow,” the AP Chairman says. He feels that the EU should invest in European cloud capacity and AI.
However, there’s a silver lining: Trump has made us realize how vulnerable Europe’s rule of law is and how important it is to protect it.
“Under pressure, everything becomes fluid, so let’s not wait for the next crisis before we take back control,” Wolfsen advises.
After 10 years, Wolfsen is stepping down as Chairman of the Dutch data protection authority. As of August 1st, Geert Potjewijd will succeed Wolfsen as Chairman of the privacy regulator.
“We are very pleased that Geert Potjewijd has agreed to take on this role. He has extensive knowledge of data protection, but his intrinsic motivation to strengthen human rights and protect democracy is even more important,” Monique Verdier, Vice Chairman of the AP, said in a statement about Potjewijd’s appointment.
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