Privacy and data protection Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Minnesota weighs AI free speech limits

The National Constitution Center reports that Minnesota lawmakers are considering a constitutional amendment to exclude AI systems from free speech protections. The proposal would clarify that such rights apply to people, not machines.

According to the National Constitution Center, the amendment would add language stating that AI does not have the right to speak, write or publish sentiments freely. Human free speech protections would remain unchanged under the proposal.

The article highlights ongoing debate around the measure, with supporters arguing it distinguishes human rights from technological tools, while critics warn it could affect how AI-generated content is treated under the law.

The National Constitution Center notes that the proposal reflects broader tensions over how legal systems should address AI and free expression as the issue develops in Minnesota.

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EU targets platforms over child safety and addictive design practices

The European Commission has intensified enforcement under the Digital Services Act (DSA), targeting online platforms for child safety, addictive design features, and insufficient age-verification systems.

Executive Vice-President Virkkunen said the measures are intended to ensure platforms are held accountable when services expose minors to harmful or restricted content.

Actions have been taken against multiple major platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Shein, over concerns related to design practices such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and highly personalised recommendation systems.

Additional enforcement has also been launched against pornographic platforms for failing to implement adequate age verification tools.

Alongside enforcement, the EU has developed a digital age verification app designed to give users control over personal data through privacy-preserving technology based on zero-knowledge proofs.

The system is already technically ready and is being tested across several member states, either as a standalone tool or integrated into national digital wallets.

The Commission is also preparing an EU-wide coordination mechanism to standardise accreditation of national solutions and avoid fragmentation across member states. The initiative aims to establish a unified age-verification framework that upholds privacy standards and supports wider adoption across digital services.

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UK strengthens AI healthcare governance to ensure safety, equity and system-wide evaluation

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK has outlined priorities for regulating AI in healthcare, focusing on safety, effectiveness and public trust.

An approach that includes strengthening pre-market evaluation and post-market surveillance, particularly for adaptive systems operating in real-world settings.

Contributions from the Health Foundation and the National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare highlight the need for broader governance frameworks.

These extend beyond technical validation to include implementation challenges, system-wide impacts and the role of human oversight in clinical environments.

The analysis emphasises that AI in healthcare operates as a socio-technical system, requiring assessment of usability, fairness and real-world outcomes. It also identifies gaps in current evaluation practices, particularly in local service assessments, which may lack consistency and reliability.

Strengthening evaluation standards, improving coordination and addressing risks such as bias and inequity are presented as central to enabling safe and scalable adoption.

Such a framework in the UK aims to balance innovation with accountability while ensuring equitable access to healthcare technologies.

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AI reshapes cybersecurity access as defenders gain new tools

OpenAI has expanded its Trusted Access for Cyber programme and introduced a more permissive AI model designed specifically for cybersecurity work. The initiative reflects a broader shift in digital security, in which advanced AI tools are increasingly integrated into both defensive and offensive cyber operations.

The development highlights a structural change in cybersecurity, where defenders are no longer relying solely on traditional tools but are instead incorporating AI systems capable of analysing code, identifying vulnerabilities and accelerating incident response.

At the same time, the same technological capabilities are becoming accessible to malicious actors, intensifying the need for controlled and verified access.

New automated vulnerability tools are being deployed to detect and fix security flaws at scale, moving towards continuous AI-assisted protection. Rather than periodic security reviews, development environments are gradually shifting towards real-time monitoring and automated remediation.

The broader implication is a tightening link between AI capability growth and cyber risk management. Access frameworks based on identity verification and trust signals aim to balance the wider availability of defensive tools with safeguards against misuse.

The expansion of AI-driven cybersecurity tools reflects a structural shift in how digital infrastructure is protected at scale. As software systems become more complex and interconnected, traditional periodic security checks are increasingly insufficient to manage fast-evolving threats.

Cybersecurity is moving towards an always-on, automated model where the balance between openness and restriction will directly shape global digital resilience. The outcome of this approach will influence how resilient digital infrastructure becomes as AI-driven threats and defences evolve in parallel.

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Sussex police deploy AI cameras to detect traffic offences

Sussex Police has introduced AI cameras to detect drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. The technology is being deployed to support enforcement and reduce road safety risks.

The rollout follows a 2024 trial by National Highways in Sussex, during which 458 offences were detected in 7 days. Most cases involved seatbelt violations, while others included mobile phone use or both offences combined.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said the cameras are intended to support policing rather than replace it. She added that AI cameras help monitor driver behaviour and enable action where necessary.

Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said the technology would strengthen enforcement and allow resources to be used more effectively. She noted that collisions linked to phone use and lack of seatbelts continue to cause injuries.

The cameras, supplied by Acusensus, will operate for several weeks before evaluation. Officials said the system will contribute to wider road safety efforts and ongoing monitoring initiatives.

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European Data Protection Board introduces DPIA template to strengthen GDPR compliance

The European Data Protection Board has introduced a standardised template for Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), aiming to improve consistency and simplify GDPR compliance across Europe.

The initiative follows the board’s broader effort to harmonise regulatory practices and make data protection requirements easier for organisations to apply.

A DPIA is required when data processing is likely to pose a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms. It involves describing how personal data is handled, assessing necessity and proportionality, and identifying measures to reduce risk.

The new template is designed to guide organisations step by step, offering structured fields that improve clarity and reduce the risk of incomplete or inconsistent assessments.

While use of the template is not mandatory, organisations are encouraged to adopt it as a practical tool to streamline reporting and ensure completeness. An accompanying document simplifies key concepts and addresses common uncertainties, making implementation more accessible across sectors.

The template will remain open for public consultation until 9 June, after which national data protection authorities are expected to integrate it into their frameworks. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback during this period as part of ongoing efforts to align data protection practices across the EU.

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Polish data protection authority seeks personal data rules for civic budgets

The President of Poland’s Personal Data Protection Office, Mirosław Wróblewski, has called for legislation clarifying how personal data should be processed in so-called civic budget procedures.

In a submission to the Minister of the Interior and Administration, Wróblewski said that current local government rules do not comprehensively regulate the processing of personal data in participatory budgeting.

According to the office, civic budget procedures involve the processing of personal data not only by public authorities but also by citizens who collect, record, and submit support lists for proposed projects. The authority says this has created practical difficulties for both public bodies responsible for consultations and the people whose data are processed.

The office says local government laws in Poland should clarify who acts as the data controller, what categories of personal data may be processed, how the status of eligible voters should be verified, and how personal data should be secured. It notes that current rules leave these issues largely to local resolutions, without precise statutory criteria on data processing.

The submission also raises concerns about the scope of personal data collected during voting. It states that some civic budget procedures require voters to provide a PESEL number, which can exclude residents who do not have one, including some foreigners and Polish citizens born abroad who use only a passport.

The office says the collection and further processing of PESEL numbers for strictly defined purposes should follow directly from legal provisions and notes that administrative case law has generally found no legal basis for requiring it in this context.

The authority also calls for rules on electronic voting in civic budgets. It says that local authorities do not always consider themselves responsible for data security before support lists are transferred, and that people collecting signatures are not always aware of their responsibilities for processing personal data.

The authority also adds that digital platforms used for such voting should meet minimum criteria consistent with the GDPR and with broader cybersecurity and digital identity frameworks, including NIS2 and eIDAS2.

According to the office, such systems should comply with data minimisation requirements and ensure transparency and verifiability of the voting process, including auditability and verification of vote counting.

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Belgian DPA releases new AI harms information brochure

The Belgian Data Protection Authority has outlined the impact of AI on privacy in a new publication, highlighting growing concerns around data use and protection. The analysis forms part of its ongoing work on emerging technologies.

According to the Belgian Data Protection Authority, AI systems rely on large volumes of data, which can increase risks related to the processing of personal data and compliance with existing regulations. This raises questions about transparency and accountability.

The authority notes that AI can make it more difficult for individuals to understand how their data is used, particularly in complex or automated decision-making systems. This may challenge established data protection principles.

The Authority emphasises the need to adapt regulatory approaches and safeguards to ensure privacy rights remain protected as AI adoption expands in Belgium.

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South Korea warns on AI fake news risks

Reporting by The Korea Herald states that South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has warned of the risks of AI-generated fake news ahead of an upcoming election. Authorities are urging greater vigilance as digital content becomes harder to verify.

According to the report, AI technologies are increasingly capable of producing realistic false information, including manipulated images and videos. This raises concerns about their potential impact on public opinion and trust.

The government has called for precautionary measures to limit the spread of misinformation and protect the integrity of democratic processes. This includes encouraging awareness and responsible use of AI tools.

The warning reflects broader concerns about the influence of AI driven disinformation during election cycles in South Korea.

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Australian authorities warn of data exploitation through social media platforms

Social media and messaging services pose growing security and privacy risks, with personal data used to build profiles for fraud, espionage, or social engineering. Even routine posts may contribute to broader data collection and unintended exposure.

Platforms typically collect extensive user and device data under evolving privacy policies, sometimes storing it across jurisdictions with varying legal protections. Such conditions increase the risks to identity theft, reputational harm, and the misuse of aggregated personal information.

The Australian Government advises organisations to restrict access to official accounts, train staff, and enforce clear policies on what can be shared. It also highlights the importance of breach response procedures to maintain operational security.

For individuals, the Government guidance recommends limiting exposure of personal data, using privacy settings, avoiding unknown contacts, and applying strong authentication.

Regular updates, careful app permissions, and device security measures are also encouraged to reduce cyber risks.

Strengthening awareness and applying consistent security practices reduces vulnerability and supports more resilient organisational systems in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.

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