AI Industry Innovations , Ethics , Government

Framework for Ethical AI Development and Deployment

The collection and use of vast amounts of personal data by AI systems raise significant privacy concerns. Without addressing issues of ethics, AI can be chaotic and detrimental. Striking a balance between AI's capabilities and privacy safeguards involves a comprehensive approach, including privacy by design and collaboration with regulators. In this interview with Information Security Media Group, Chavon Clarke-Joell, assistant commissioner, head of innovation, AI, and strategic engagement at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda, discussed the containment of AI-driven disinformation and a collaborative approach to harness the positive potential of AI.

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Edited excerpts follow:

Tell us about your current role and key responsibilities at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda.

As the assistant commissioner for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda, I oversee innovation in data protection and technology ethics, aligning privacy regulations with technological advancements. My responsibilities include developing strategies for privacy management, data privacy in AI and digital technologies, researching trends, and creating educational materials. I also strategize for Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) readiness to address complex privacy and ethics issues in AI.

My work involves developing an innovation office and public approach that includes sustainable, disruptive and transformative advancements, particularly focusing on ethical privacy in AI and emerging technologies.

What challenges do businesses and governments face in large-scale implementation of AI without being impacted by its negative aspects?

AI technologies need to be developed and implemented with a focus on ethical considerations, user well-being and a human-centric approach. This is particularly crucial in the context of the digital polycrisis, which I define as the complex web of challenges arising from digital transformation and AI integration.

To achieve this, organizations need to:

• Establish ethical guidelines prioritizing privacy, fairness and transparency in AI systems, including ethical audits and assessments.
• Foster user-centric design by involving users in the development process to enhance user experience.
• Implement robust privacy measures in AI systems that comply with relevant regulations such as Bermuda's PIPA and/or the EU GDPR.
• Provide continuous education, guidance and training for both developers and users.
• Prioritize transparency and accountability to build trust and aid in understanding how AI systems work, fostering better human-AI collaboration.
• Monitor AI systems for ethical compliance and user well-being, and be prepared to adapt strategies as needed.

By incorporating these strategies, organizations can ensure that AI technologies are ethically sound, user-friendly, and conducive to a harmonious relationship between humans and AI systems.

How can we strike a balance between the capabilities of AI in processing vast amounts of personal data and maintaining privacy safeguards, ensuring individuals have control over their data and they trust AI applications?

We need to emphasize the entire AI life cycle, including ethical development, implementation and management of technology. This involves establishing ethical guidelines promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.

To strike a balance between AI's data processing capabilities and privacy safeguards, we need to:

• Design AI systems to minimize data collection and use only necessary data, complying with and going beyond existing data protection laws.
• Advocate for transparent AI operations, informing users about data collection, processing, and usage to build trust and understanding.
• Provide tools for users to manage their data preferences and consent, ensuring their control over personal information.
• Ensure AI applications adhere to privacy laws and ethical standards through ongoing audits.
• Work with authorities to ensure legal frameworks to align with evolving AI advancements.
• Educate users about data privacy and AI capabilities for informed decision-making.
• Ensure diverse teams are involved in AI development to bring balanced perspectives that mitigate biases and create culturally sensitive and inclusive AI systems.

How can we effectively contain AI-driven disinformation with the broader framework of "AI for Good?" Are the necessary guardrails still significantly missing?

AI-driven disinformation is a multifaceted challenge. The following strategy can be helpful in mitigating the risks:

• Prioritize the development of AI algorithms that can effectively identify and flag disinformation. These tools need to be designed with ethical considerations at their core.
• Collaborate with technologists, ethicists, policymakers and experts from various fields, including media, psychology and social sciences, to understand the nuances of disinformation and develop more comprehensive detection strategies.
• Focus on regulations for the ethical use of AI in content creation and dissemination of information.
• Create awareness about critically evaluating information and understanding the potential manipulative uses of AI.
• Update detection algorithms to keep pace with changing tactics in disinformation.
• Work toward global collaboration and standardization in tackling AI-driven disinformation, given the borderless nature of digital media and the internet.

"AI for Good" encompasses technological, regulatory, educational and ethical strategies. A holistic approach is key to effectively combating disinformation while promoting the positive potential of AI.

Clarke-Joell, an AI ethics and data protection leader, was named one of the top 100 brilliant women in AI Ethics.