Regulators are adopting new rules to address AI and privacy issues. Learn about these laws and how to protect your data when using AI to build a course.
As the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) gets louder, so do concerns about what this new technology means for data privacy. Teaching and training professionals often handle information that, if shared, could put students and employees at risk and violate laws and regulations. Stay prepared with a closer look at current AI data privacy concerns, including where they stem from, what regulators are doing about them, and what you can do to protect your data when using AI.
Why the Growth of AI Has Raised Privacy Concerns
Data is the heart of AI systems such as large language models, which use learning algorithms to process enormous troves of information and generate output. As a result, there's a straight line between generative AI and data privacy: if you train AI with sensitive data, that information could eventually become available to the public.
In addition, AI can pull together and connect different pieces of personal data in unexpected ways. While it might not permanently store the information in its original form, it's impossible to remove what the AI learns from the data once it goes through the algorithm, putting the data at risk long after you create the initial output.
Regulators and lawmakers recognize these potential complications and are working to keep up with the rapid development of generative AI. They're still grappling with how to adjust existing rules and create new ones that fully protect private and sensitive information.
Data Protection Rules That Address AI and Privacy Issues
At this stage, there's no blanket legal and ethical framework for AI in education. However, depending on your location, you might fall under a variety of data privacy regulations and laws that apply to AI.
The GDPR and AI
One of the most prominent examples of regulators attempting to wrangle with new technologies is the European Union's (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Since enacting the law in 2018 to safeguard consumer privacy, regulators have continued to fine-tune their approach to the GDPR and generative AI.
The law sets strict guidelines for the collection and processing of personal data, requiring measures such as:
- Obtaining consent
- Taking steps to prevent data breaches and theft
- Collecting only essential data
In 2024, the intersection of AI and GDPR rules has become more concrete. The EU released their final draft of the AI Act, which establishes a framework to protect personal privacy and rights in the AI era.
Other Laws and Regulations to Consider
AI regulations aren't exclusive to Europe. Regulators in the United States are also making adjustments to existing laws in response to generative AI. This includes:
- New protections in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that account for the expanding use of AI
- Proposed revisions to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which regulates the online collection of personal information for children under 13
- Amendments to the Federal Trade Commission's Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information, better known as the Safeguards Rule, in an effort to make requirements such as information security programs more aligned with the ongoing developments in technology
As the use of generative AI and other EdTech trends continues to evolve, it's vital for trainers and instructors to keep a close eye on changing regulations, rules, and standards. That's the only way to avoid unintentional compliance and privacy violations.
How to Handle Data Privacy and AI When Creating Courses
Worries about AI data privacy shouldn't stop you from leveraging cutting-edge tools that simplify course creation. With the right solutions, it's possible to use an AI course builder without creating a privacy nightmare.
When it comes to creating a course with AI, one of the biggest pitfalls to avoid is choosing a solution with subpar security measures. If you want to create courses from internal content without putting anyone's data at risk, use a secure system and a privately hosted AI model like IllumiDesk. Unlike ChatGPT, which is a public platform that sends all your data to OpenAI's servers, a private AI model won't use your data to train massive language models. This gives you greater control and a heightened level of data security.
In addition to offering better data security, IllumiDesk makes building courses faster and more convenient. Get started with IllumiDesk for free to explore how a safe and secure AI platform can protect learners' data while also streamlining and speeding up your course creation process.
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