AI technology is becoming increasingly prolific in nearly every industry, and with great benefits. However, as AI technology advances and goes into more and more industries, the risks of cybersecurity grow as well. For businesses and individuals to protect themselves in a digital world, they need to be aware and prepared.
Privacy is Paramount in the Digital Era
As the world becomes more digital, privacy is more of a concern. The right to keep personal information free from access and confidential is becoming more and more difficult, as businesses and governments attempt to collect data to inform their decisions. It should still be up to the individual about what they want to share, and what they don’t. It protects the individual from anyone who is seeking personal information to cause harm, but is also crucial to maintaining digital autonomy and control.
How AI Challenges Digital Privacy
AI can be a challenge to digital privacy. AI systems require personal data for their algorithms, and without that data, AI systems are not as helpful and functional. AI is looking for subtle patterns that humans may not be able to discern, and will use that information to drive decision making. Most of this data is so minor that users are not even aware that it is being shared. However, AI has the potential to violate privacy, which is a concern to many users. When data is taken out of the user’s hands, it can easily fall into the hands of those who might use it negatively.
Can AI Be Abused?
There is always a risk that the data gathered by AI can be used for the wrong purpose, such as identity theft or cybercrime. AI also has the potential for bias and discrimination in data collection. AI systems are trained by the data, and if the data is biased, the information generated will be biased as well. AI will perpetuate any biases that the data provided will train the system on. This can be harmful to many individuals. In addition, AI can be abused when it crosses the line into digital surveillance. We all have the right to digital privacy, and AI systems can violate those rights without the consent of the user. In the wrong hands, AI can collect data that can be used against an individual. AI can also be a target for cybercriminals. Cybercriminals are using AI to create convincing fake images and videos to spread misinformation or create highly convincing phishing attacks, tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information because they have learned and are able to replicate the trusted source so well.
Does AI Data Collection Impact Cybersecurity?
The more information AI collects, the greater the potential risk to cybersecurity. Big tech companies have access to vast amounts of data, making them more powerful in a digital world. The more data that is collected, the greater the potential is for that data to be misused. A virtual environment will give the big tech companies even more opportunity to collect and leverage data. To make sure that this metaverse is safe and secure for all data, proactive measurements will need to be taken to keep the data practice ethical and responsible. AI data collection absolutely will impact cybersecurity, and users will have to be vigilant in monitoring the data they are willing to have accessible.
Finding Solutions to the Challenges Posed by AI
With every advancement comes risk. Organizations that use AI to design and implement their systems need to make a concentrated effort to prioritize privacy and adopt strong data protection policies. Every business that uses AI needs to be transparent about their collection and use of data to all customers, and customers and users should be given the option to opt out of data collection. Individuals and users can benefit from AI, but that never means that their consent should be assumed. There is a need for government regulation to ensure that businesses – especially those who are collecting and using the most data for their AI systems – are not abusing their power.
Looking Forward: What Can Businesses Do to Balance AI and Cybersecurity?
Awareness is the first thing that businesses can do to balance AI and cybersecurity. While the benefits of AI technology are astounding, those benefits do come at a cost of digital privacy. AI technology should be developed and used in a way that respects individual rights and freedoms. Effective regulation and oversight can help businesses from going too far and losing sight of the big picture of what data collection is asking of their users. Businesses need to be very aware they have not stepped over the line. Businesses who utilize AI technology can also make sure to invest in data encryption to protect the sensitive information collected. This encryption will prevent information from unauthorized access by converting information into an unreadable format that cannot be stolen.
Protecting privacy is paramount. Businesses and individuals need to be aware of the way the digital landscape is changing with the increased emphasis on AI and data collection and should take the right steps to secure all data that is shared in the metaverse. Privacy with AI needs cooperation and collaboration between the business, the user, and the regulations that should be there to protect the security of the data. As technology advances and changes the way we function, we need to change the way we look at privacy as well. AccuShred is a trusted partner, and we take pride in educating our community on cybersecurity current events and best practices. To learn more, check out our AccuShred blog.