AI Governance

In a world where AI promises seem to be becoming as frequent as pop-up ads, the FTC’s decision to take on DoNotPay is a notable one. The company, which once boasted about offering “the world’s first robot lawyer,” has now been forced to face the music for its misleading marketing. The Federal Trade Commission has finalized an order against DoNotPay, following an investigation that questioned the legitimacy of their AI-powered legal services.

At the AI Action Summit in Paris this week, five global data protection authorities made an important pledge. On the 6th of February, a joint declaration was signed by officials from Australia, Korea, Ireland, France, and the UK—each committed to fostering an artificial intelligence ecosystem that doesn’t just innovate, but also respects privacy and safeguards fundamental rights.

In a world where artificial intelligence is pushing boundaries and reshaping industries, the question of how to protect individuals' privacy has never been more pressing. Fortunately, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) isn't just a barrier to innovation—it can be the very tool that enables responsible AI development. The French Data Protection Authority, or CNIL, has just issued new recommendations that take the best of both worlds: advancing AI while ensuring personal data is treated with the respect it deserves.

The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (DPA) has announced two significant investigations today. One centers on the legality of the DeepSeek AI application under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), while the other addresses a spyware breach that has impacted WhatsApp users in Greece.

The Italian data protection authority has fired a warning shot at AI developers worldwide, blocking DeepSeek, a Chinese chatbot service, from processing data belonging to Italian users. The move adds yet another chapter to Europe's growing scrutiny of AI platforms and their compliance with strict privacy laws.

In August 2024, the European Union took a big step toward governing one of the most transformative technologies of our time by formally enacting the EU AI Act—the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Now, as of Sunday, a critical deadline has passed, setting into motion provisions that are set to reshape how businesses develop and deploy AI.

AI has captivated industries, governments, and innovators alike, with its potential to unlock medical breakthroughs, transform public services, and drive economic growth. Yet, alongside the buzz, myths and misconceptions about how AI interacts with data protection laws continue to circulate, muddying the waters for businesses, developers, and individuals.