Home
News
- 1 The Information Commission Office (ICO) has issued a warning to Snapchat regarding its AI chatbot “My AI”.
- 2 As per the watchdog, it’s a preliminary notice and does not imply any harsh measures.
- 3 However, the body wants it to be a precedent for any company dealing with user privacy.
Snapchat is one of the leading social media platforms. It’s quite popular among youngsters due to its instant messaging and a number of features. And like many other websites, Snapchat is also using AI chatbots to maintain full functionality. But recently, the company found itself in a fix due to a particular AI chatbot feature.
What’s Wrong With Snapchat’s AI Chatbot?
Snapchat’s AI Chatbot “My AI” has come under the regulatory radar for possible risks. On Oct 6, the UK data watchdog issued a warning to the social media company regarding it. As per the statement, the chatbot fails to comply with the privacy norms of the country. The warning was in the form of a preliminary notice by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). It was sent to the parent companies of Snapchat which are Snap Group and Snap Inc.
The watchdog also shared this update on X (formerly Twitter). According to them, the basis of the notice is a provisional investigation of the company. The probe revealed that the AI-based function is not robust enough. It cannot safeguard the information of millions of users in the UK including children aged 13 to 17.
John Edwards, the UK’s information commissioner issued a statement on this situation. He said that the commission has been clear about its stance on AI. Organizations must analyze the risks associated with AI before rolling out any program. Today’s incident will set a precedent for all companies trying to work around this technology. It also evinces that the regulators will take action to protect consumers’ privacy whenever it’s needed. The notice also highlights that Snapchat may get a final enforcement notice.
If that happens, then it would be obliged to stop the data processing of AI technology. As a result, they won’t be able to provide any related services to UK-based users. However, Edwards said that nothing should be deduced from this notice. It’s just a preliminary step, not an action against the company yet. In February 2023, Snapchat rolled out My AI to users of Snapchat+. From the month of April, it became accessible to all the users.
What’s Snapchat Doing About It?
Notably, OpenAI’s GPT-4 powers My AI and enables it to communicate with users. According to the watchdog, it is the first generative AI-based program in a messaging platform in the UK. A spokesperson from Snapchat talked to the media about this incident. They said that they are analyzing the notice closely. The company is resolute in protecting privacy at any cost. It examined My AI stringently to ensure privacy, said the spokesperson.
Furthermore, the company will work closely with ICO to ensure risk assessment procedures. They also informed that, all the major social media platforms have integrated AI features. Recently, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn announced the launch of an AI tool on its platform. Tech giants like Google and Meta have also done AI chatbot integrations into their services.
Most users are expecting this issue will be resolved amicably as soon as possible. They are hoping to enjoy the fruits of AI without risking their privacy.
Nancy J. Allen is a crypto enthusiast, with a major in macroeconomics and minor in business statistics. She believes that cryptocurrencies inspire people to be their own banks, and step aside from traditional monetary exchange systems. She is also intrigued by blockchain technology and its functioning. She frequently researches, and posts content on the top altcoins, their theoretical working principles and technical price predictions.
