Snapchat launched its artificial intelligence chatbot called My AI in May. This artificial intelligence chatbot has been facing some controversies for a while now. It has also come under scrutiny from governments, and a UK regulator reportedly issued a warning against the chatbot citing potential risks to children’s privacy.
Why was the Snapchat chatbot under review?
The agency’s concerns focus primarily on children’s privacy and Snapchat’s alleged failure to evaluate the chatbot’s privacy risks before its official launch. The issued warning does not necessarily mean that the regulator has detected a breach, but My AI may be blocked in the UK if the necessary precautions are not taken.
The agency’s main focus is on children aged 13 to 17, who fall under the Children’s Design Act, a set of data protection rules introduced in 2021. Initially, the AI chatbot was exclusive to Premium subscribers and would be used as a virtual friend who could answer questions or give advice. After an initial testing period, the chatbot was made available to anyone using Snapchat, including underage users.
However, there were some concerns regarding the chatbot’s behavior. Despite Snapchat’s claims that it has strict moderation and protection features, there have been some cases where the chatbot has given inappropriate advice. One piece of advice mentioned was a 15-year-old user suggesting ways to disguise the smell of alcohol.
My AI, the Snapchat artificial intelligence chatbot, which has caused a lot of controversy for allegedly giving bad advice to many underage children, finally caught the eye of a regulatory agency, and the agency issued a warning in this regard.
In response to the regulator’s warning, Snapchat underlined that it is committed to protecting user privacy and is reviewing the warning. Snapchat said it will continue to cooperate with the relevant agency to ensure they are satisfied with the company’s risk assessment procedures.
So what do you think about this issue? You can share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
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