UK privacy watchdog accuses Snapchat of failing to assess My AI privacy risks

Snapchat owner Snap Inc has been issued with a provisional enforcement notice by the UK privacy watchdog for failing to assess privacy risks its My AI chatbot poses to users, notably children. 

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said Snap had failed to 'adequately identify and assess the risks' to several million UK users of My AI, including among 13- to 17-year-olds. Snap responded by saying it would 'work constructively' with the ICO, and that it had carried out a 'robust legal and privacy review' before My AI was launched.

Should a final notice be issued, the service would be halted and Snap fined up to 4 percent of its annual global turnover.

Snap was the first social media platform to adopt an AI-powered chat function. Initially available to Snapchat+ subscribers, My AI was rolled out across Snapchat's entire user base in April 2023. 

Legal, regulatory 👩🏼‍⚖️

• UK Information Commissioner's Office (2023). UK Information Commissioner issues preliminary enforcement notice against Snap

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/oct/06/snapchat-enforcement-notice-my-ai-chatbot-uk-data-watchdog

• https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/06/snap-ico-notice/

• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/snapchat-under-uk-watchdog-scanner-over-failure-to-curb-underage-users/articleshow/102536534.cms

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67027282

• https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-regulator-issues-notice-snapchat-over-privacy-risks-posed-by-ai-chatbot-2023-10-06/

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/10/06/snapchat-ai-chatbot-faces-uk-shutdown-risk-to-children/