Is it impossible to stop your data being used to train AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most rapidly developing technologies of our time. It’s now worth over $200 billion, with companies like Google investing close to a whopping $2 billion. And what do we know about companies like Google? People are suspicious about data collection and usage. Is AI the same? Potentially. Read on to learn more.

Understanding how data feeds AI

AI thrives on data. The more information it can analyze, the better. And it’s everywhere, without you even realizing it. And you can argue that yes, you can remove your personal data from the internet, but what if you rely on it too much?  Facial recognition? AI-based technology. Predicting the next movie for you to watch on Netflix? AI-based technology. And that’s not even scratching the service of how surrounded we already were by AI before the ChatGPT era.

Did you know that companies collect endless amounts of data from user interactions on various platforms and devices? They then use this data to improve existing algorithms and develop new technologies. All the technology we mentioned above (and everything else AI can do) uses this learning method. Yes, this can lead to innovations that make our lives easier, but it raises significant privacy concerns.

The relentless collection and analysis allow AI systems to become more ‘intelligent’ over time, but isn’t that collecting a massive digital footprint? And can you remove all your information from the internet? Or will AI store information analyzed?

Opting out

The opt-out option. The option that everyone seems to ignore. Tech companies give you options to limit data sharing, but the effectiveness and transparency of these options can vary. And do we always read them? No. Still, users can often adjust their privacy settings on individual platforms to reduce the amount of data shared.

Completely opting out of data collection is rarely straightforward. Even if you can limit data sharing on one platform, your data might still be collected elsewhere. And, anonymized data can still be used in ways that might affect you indirectly.

(Image credit) Legislation and data rights

You need an understanding of the different legislation and data protection rights across regions. Cybersecurity companies must follow numerous legal frameworks that govern data protection, breach notifications, and consumer privacy. Understanding these can help you understand your rights to stop your data from being used to train AI.

Key legislations include:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): This European Union regulation is one of the most stringent privacy and security laws globally. It imposes obligations onto organizations anywhere, so long as they collect data related to people in the EU.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): The CCPA gives consumers more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): In the United States, HIPAA protects sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. Hospitals are increasingly using AI.
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): This is a widely accepted set of policies and procedures intended to optimize the security of credit, debit, and cash card transactions and protect cardholders against misuse of their personal information.

Technology solutions and user empowerment

Technologies like blockchain and federated learning have potential solutions by decentralizing data storage and processing – enhancing privacy. These technologies can help data to remain in the user’s control and not centralized in a way that makes it easy to exploit.

And, increased awareness and education about data rights can empower users to make more informed decisions about their data. They could provide the means for individuals to have a more active role in managing their digital identities. That could potentially shift the balance of power from corporations back to consumers.

AI is seeping into every industry, you’d think there was nothing safe from it, including your data. Fear not – you definitely can increase your control. The issue is data compliance, bias, and consumer awareness. If you don’t know where your data is and what people are doing with it, how will it be any different with AI?

Featured image credit: Steve Johnson/Unsplash