Snap's AI chatbot under scrutiny in UK over kids' privacy concerns

Snap's AI chatbot, My AI, is facing scrutiny from the UK's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), over concerns about its impact on kids' privacy.

The ICO has issued a preliminary enforcement notice to Snap, stating that the company may have failed to properly assess the privacy risks posed by My AI, particularly to children.

The ICO's investigation found that Snap may not have done enough to protect children from harmful content or to prevent them from sharing personal information with the chatbot. The ICO is also concerned that Snap may not have been transparent enough with users about how their data is being used.

Snap has said that it is cooperating with the ICO's investigation and that it is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. The company has also said that it is making changes to My AI to address the ICO's concerns.

The ICO's investigation into Snap's AI chatbot is a reminder that companies need to be careful when developing and using AI technologies. AI chatbots can be a valuable tool for businesses, but they also pose potential risks to users, especially children. It is important for companies to take steps to mitigate these risks and to be transparent with users about how their data is being used.

Parents should also be aware of the potential risks of AI chatbots and talk to their children about how to use these technologies safely. Here are some tips for parents:

• Talk to your children about the potential risks of using AI chatbots. Explain that they should not share personal information with the chatbot, such as their name, address, or phone number.
• Monitor your children's use of AI chatbots. You can do this by checking the history of the chatbot or by using a parental control app.
• Use privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information that your children can share with AI chatbots. Many chatbots allow you to disable features such as location sharing and photo sharing.
• Be aware of the types of AI chatbots that your children are using. Some chatbots are designed for children, while others are not. It is important to do some research on the company that developed the app before allowing your child to use it.

If you are concerned about your child's privacy, you can always disable AI chatbots on their devices.