Technology firms have received a shot over the bows over the rapid rise of AI-generated images depicting real people without their consent, with more than 60 data protection and privacy authorities worldwide joining forces to demand robust safeguards and accountability.
In showing a united front, despite differing data protection regimes across the world, the signatories are stressing that companies cannot sidestep the law simply because a machine has produced the content.
The statement reads: “While AI can bring meaningful benefits for individuals and society, recent developments – particularly AI image and video generation integrated into widely accessible social media platforms – have enabled the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery, defamatory depictions, and other harmful content featuring real individuals.
“We are especially concerned about potential harms to children and other vulnerable groups, such as cyber-bullying and/or exploitation.
“To encourage the development of innovative and privacy-protective AI, the co-signatories of this statement are united in expressing their concern about the potential harms from the misuse of AI content generation systems.
“The co-signatories aim to share information on their approaches to addressing these concerns that can include enforcement, policy and education, as appropriate and to the extent that such sharing is consistent with applicable laws. This reflects our shared commitment and joint effort in addressing a global risk.”
It concluded: “We call on organisations to engage proactively with regulators, implement robust safeguards from the outset, and ensure that technological advancement does not come at the expense of privacy, dignity, safety, and other fundamental rights – particularly for the most vulnerable of our global society.”
The move comes weeks after a raft of regulators, including the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, launched formal investigations into xAI following reports that its Grok chatbot had generated sexualised images of real individuals without their consent.
ICO executive director of regulatory risk and innovation William Malcolm said: “People should be able to benefit from AI without fearing that their identity, dignity or safety are under threat. AI already plays a large role in all our lives, and everybody has a right to expect that AI systems handling their personal data will do with respect. Responsible innovation means putting people first: anticipating the risks and building in meaningful safeguards to ensure autonomy, transparency, and control.
“Public trust is foundational to the successful adoption and use of AI. Joint regulatory initiatives like this show global commitment to high standards of data protection in AI systems and help provide regulatory certainty. We expect those developing and deploying AI to act responsibly. Where we find that obligations have not been met, we will take action to protect the public.”
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