Do AI Bots Have Access To Your Private Converstaions? You Should Stop It Right Now

Despite the fact that AI Bots are an opportunity for convenience and efficiency, giving them access to private conversations puts privacy and security at real stake.

With the increased integration of chatbots has come the emergence of data-protecting problems that remain understudied.

Source : Alex Knight/Pexels

By Ankush Sabharwal

AI Bots are dominant almost everywhere nowadays, performing numerous tasks, such as customer care and personal assistance. Alas, providing these kinds of AI systems full access to one's private conversations can expose serious concerns of privacy and security.

Concerns About Data Privacy

AI Bots (ChatBots/VoiceBots/VideoBots) require massive amounts of user data for effective functioning. This data encompasses personal and sensitive information, the mishandling of which leads to unauthorised access and data breaches. 

The Dutch Data Protection Authority study noted that if personal data is applied in AI chatbots, this might give companies providing the service undue advantage to access such information, which in itself constitutes a personal data breach under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) of India mandates AI chatbots to prioritise user privacy through explicit consent for personal data collection, clear disclosure of data collection purposes, robust security measures, and user access to modify or delete their information. 

Essentially, chatbots must ensure transparency and user control throughout all interactions."

Also, a survey showed that 73 per cent of consumers feel that their data are private when dealing with chatbots. This makes the issue of data protection very serious, and the users must understand the importance of the information they give to any given AI system. 

Security Concerns

The integration of AI chatbots into multiple platforms has led to new security challenges. Researchers have discovered weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors. For instance, a paper found vulnerabilities in some AI chatbots that allowed hackers to siphon out personal information from users. 

Such occurrences serve to reiterate the importance of good security policies for the protection of user data.

With the increased integration of chatbots has come the emergence of data-protecting problems that remain understudied. AI bots must ve implemented via trusted sovereign AI platforms, and should also be security-tested by CERT-In empanelled agencies

Unauthorised Sharing Of Data

There have been allegations of AI chatbots being implicated in the unauthorised sharing of data with foreign entities. For instance, experts talked about an 'open security' risk whereby login details of users of the very famous AI chatbot were allegedly being sent to the Chinese government. 

Coding in the app may allow it to covertly pass on information to China Mobile, which is a state-owned telecom company. Such instances bring out the risk factor that has to do with data sovereignty, thus raising the voice against foreign governments wanting access to that. 

Regulatory And Compliance-Risks

Organisations using AI chatbots have to balance themselves with the various regulatory landscapes to ensure that they comply with the relevant data protection laws. Otherwise, they may end up encountering legal liabilities and financial penalties. 

Just as important, we must stress the need for data governance frameworks that would mitigate against potential harm from the use of AI chatbots, which will, in a way, enhance their potential to do the good work that they intend to do. 

Suggested Actions

To address privacy and security concerns surrounding AI Bots, the following actions are suggested:

• Establish Robust Security Mechanisms: Organisations should ensure that their bots are equipped with strong encryption and secure protocols with respect to user data safety.
• Conduct Regular Audits and Compliance Checks: Conduct regular audits to ensure that the bot's operations stay in compliance with relevant data protection regulations.
• Educate Users: Users should be cautioned regarding risks that can arise with sharing sensitive information with AI Bots; therefore, they should be encouraged to engage with caution. 

Despite the fact that AI Bots are an opportunity for convenience and efficiency, giving them access to private conversations puts privacy and security at real stake. Data breaches, infringement of privacy, and non-compliance with regulations are examples that must caution organisations. 

Both users and organisations should follow strict data protection measures and remain alert in keeping sensitive information protected from being exploited by AI systems. 

Embracing Sovereign AI platforms and solutions, including AI Bots, ensures our interactions are not only efficient but also secure, private, and reliable.

(The author is the Founder and CEO, CoRover)

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