The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) on Tuesday, made a submission to the Information Regulator of South Africa that LinkedIn was harvesting citizens’ personal information to train AI models without their consent.
The association advocates for the responsible use of AI in South Africa.
Dr Nick Bradshaw, the founder of SAAIA, said it was worried by the “breakneck speed” at which AI products were getting introduced to the market and wondered whether due process was followed.
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“The race to build new AI products and services is a global one but its impacts can also be local. We have been monitoring the breakneck speed of AI innovation as vendors and investors are spending huge sums of money to bring these new offerings to market, and while doing so, we are assessing if this is being done in a responsible manner,” said Dr Bradshaw, the SAAIA founder.
“To this end, we feel it’s important that individuals and nation states must not be disadvantaged in both the short and long term. This is especially when it comes to how our personal data is being used to train the next generation of AI powered platforms and applications,” Dr Bradshaw added.
LinkedIn’s exploitation of SA users’ data
Nathan-Ross Adams who leads regulatory affairs at SAAIA said the bone of contention was that LinkedIn’s use of South Africans’ personal information was in violation of Chapter 3 of Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
“Our letter of complaint to the Information Regulator is focused on LinkedIn’s use of South African users’ personal information. This is used to train its generative AI models in that: It does not meet the conditions for lawful processing under Chapter 3 of POPIA,” Mr Adams stated.
“Their conduct likely constitutes interference with personal information as outlined in section 73 of POPIA and given the significant public interest, requires investigation from the Information Regulator,” the SAAIA advisory board member said.
He said the association’s goal was to ensure AI “grows more powerful” yet “more accountable.”
“This is more than just a legal matter; it’s about protecting the rights of individuals in an age where data is currency. SAAIA’s mission is to ensure that as AI grows more powerful, it also grows more accountable,” Mr Adams stated.
Dr Bradshaw called on stakeholders deom citizens and government “to engage in the debate” and assess LinkedIn’s actions towards its South African users.
“It is of vital importance that the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence should have at their heart the principles of responsible AI. It should not just benefit a select few,” Dr Bradshaw said. “We will await the feedback from the Information Regulator of South Africa on this important matter.”
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Meanwhile LinkedIn has a message on its help page notifying users that their personal data were being used to develop AI models.
“We may use your personal data to improve, develop, and provide products and Services, develop and train artificial intelligence (AI) models, develop, provide, and personalise our Services, and gain insights with the help of AI, automated systems, and inferences, so that our Services can be more relevant and useful to you and others,”reads a message on LinkedIn’s help page.
About The South African AI Association
The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) serves as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and collaboration among AI professionals and enthusiasts in South Africa.
It encourages the implementation of Responsible AI and offers complimentary training resources, news, and insights regarding emergent AI opportunities on a local, regional, and global scale.
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