Understanding Privacy in AI Ethics

Privacy Maren Hewitt Lisa Jean-Philippe William Koumbaros

Chapter goals Understanding privacy What is privacy How do we measure privacy When is privacy violated

Understanding Privacy Privacy in AI ethics Refers to the protection and respectful use of individuals personal data, ensuring it is not exploited without consent and maintaining confidentiality in AI systems and Applications Chat GPT Claim of individuals, groups, or institutions to determine for themselves when how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others Privacy and Freedom Alan F. Westin Privacy is control over access to personal information Privacy in AI ethics James Brusseau

What is personal information Sometimes information about a person does not feel personal William is on the earth (location) Jb has a height (physical attribute) Jane is breathing (activity) Other times similar information feels inherently personal William s exact geographical coordinates are 40 42'41.6"N 74 00'19.1"W (location) Jb has a height of 195 cm (6' 4.8") (physical attribute) Jane is purchasing illicit substances (activity) We categorize information that we may want to keep secret as Personal identifying information

What is personal information (Personal Identifying Information) Examples Physical attribute Height Hair Color Non-physical attributes Has a degree in mathematics Likes to play the piano Activities Ate a pizza yesterday Goes hiking every saturday

What is personal information (Personal Identifying Information) Problems arise when we try to define personal identifying information using categories Is jb ate a pizza in 1994 personally identifying information? Depends on the context If jb is living in New York then probably not What If jb is living in the fictional country of Nea-Antipizzonia where the consumption of pizza is illegal?

How to identify personal identifying information: The lineup test If given specific information about a group of people that is otherwise similar can we use an anonymous statement to identify which person the statement is about. If so then that statement is likely to be considered personal identifying information

The lineup test Maren went to San Diego over the summer Lisa went to Spain over the summer William went to the Bahamas over the summer Person A purchased a ticket to Grand Bahama Freeport Airport on the 2nd day of june. what is person A s name?

How Culture Shapes Our Definition of Privacy Content: Different cultures have different privacy norms: What is private in one society might be public in another. Examples of Cultural Differences: 1. Japan vs. U.S. Workplace Privacy: Japan: Open office layouts, emphasis on group work, limited personal space. U.S.: Private offices, more individualism, stronger data protection laws. 2. Europe vs. U.S. Digital Privacy: Europe: GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) provides strong digital privacy protections. U.S.: No federal equivalent to GDPR, leading to greater corporate data collection. 3. Middle East vs. Western Privacy Expectations: Middle East: Strong emphasis on family privacy, but government surveillance is common. Western societies: More transparency in governance but higher risk of corporate surveillance. Key Takeaways: Privacy is relative;different cultures prioritize privacy in different ways. Government policies influence privacy expectations;data protection laws vary widely. Understanding cultural privacy norms is crucial for international business and AI ethics.

Do We Have Privacy in Public? The Challenges of Modern Surveillance Content: Traditional Public vs. Private Distinction: 1. Historically, being in public meant less privacy but not total surveillance. 2. Now, technology challenges this distinction (e.g., smartphones, CCTV, AI tracking). Examples of Privacy Concerns in Public: 1. Surveillance Cameras: Governments and private businesses install security cameras everywhere. Many people don t consent but are still recorded daily. 2. Street Photography and Art: The case of Arne Svenson s The Neighbors exhibit: Is taking photos through windows legal? Public space laws allow for photos, but ethical concerns remain. 3. Facial Recognition Technology: Some cities ban facial recognition; others widely use it for security. Raises concerns about mass surveillance and racial bias in AI. Key Takeaways: Just because something is legal doesn t mean it s ethical. Surveillance affects behavior, leading to self-censorship (e.g., people acting differently when they know they re being watched). AI surveillance could eliminate anonymity in public, creating ethical dilemmas.

How AI is Changing the Way We Think About Privacy AI s Role in Privacy Challenges: AI systems collect, analyze, and predict personal behavior. The balance between convenience (e.g., personalized ads) and privacy concerns. Biggest AI Privacy Risks: Facial Recognition & Biometric Data: Used for security, but raises concerns about constant monitoring. Governments and corporations can track movements without consent. Predictive Analytics & AI Profiling: AI predicts behavior, purchasing habits, even mental health issues. Raises concerns about misuse in employment, insurance, and policing. Data Breaches & AI Cybersecurity Risks: AI can automate cyberattacks, leading to more data leaks. Even encrypted data can be compromised by machine learning advances. Ethical and Legal Questions: Should AI companies require explicit consent before collecting data? Should individuals have the right to opt-out of AI-driven tracking? How do we ensure AI is transparent and unbiased in its privacy practices? Key Takeaways: AI raises new ethical and legal questions about privacy. More regulation is needed to protect individuals from AI-driven surveillance. Public awareness is crucial people must understand how their data is used.

Privacy as a verb Privacy is something you do not something you have Privacy is the act of deciding for yourself what is part of public knowledge and what is secret knowledge Privacy in AI ethics James Brusseau Privacy is the ability to choose who knows what about you It is the dial between public knowledge and secrets, you grant consent. Public is something everyone knows, such as having a height, while secrets are things you don t want anyone to know, like singing in the shower. Privacy is the line between those. Consent is key. Telling a stranger your height is not a violation of privacy a stranger finding out your height is

Can someone with no secrets be private? Privacy and secrecy are often confused Secrecy is the obfuscation of information Privacy is the act of choosing whether or not information is to be kept secret Paradoxically choosing to have no secrets and broadcast all of your personal information maintains your privacy Kim Kardashian has privacy but shares her whole life She controls what personal information is shared and is consenting Not having secrets does not equal no privacy Privacy is about having control over your personal information and consenting to it being shared

Has privacy been violated in these cases? Surveillance camera man Youtuber who takes films people in public from close range without asking does this in areas where there are surveillance cameras Can people consent to being filmed by one unknown party but not by another at the same time? Is there a difference in being filmed by a stranger or by surveillance cameras? Is not protesting surveillance cameras the same as giving consent to having the footage being used for however they want? National security agency Representative Mike Rogers claims that citizen privacy is maintained because the government keeps the secret If the information shared is guaranteed not to have an effect on someone's life is their privacy maintained even when people access that information It can t be violated if you don t know about it

The Neighbors The Neighbors Art exhibit where photographer Arne Svenson took pictures of his neighbours through their windows without their knowledge Their faces are never photographed, but the building location is public knowledge, so it isn t impossible to identify the people. The residents knew their walls were windows and chose less privacy for more light, does this mean they consented to have people look at them? Does consent to be looked at also mean consent to be photographed, is there a difference or is it the same thing? Is there a difference between a NYC apartment and a house in the countryside, is it the windows that makes a difference or location? Are the rules for consent be different for art than healthcare or entertainment? Would studying eating or sleeping habits be more justifiable?