EU scrutinises Google over AI model data use

As the lead EU regulator for many major US tech firms, the DPC’s investigation is part of broader efforts to regulate personal data processing in AI development across the EU/EEA.
Google’s AI Mode now lets users upload photos alongside text queries, offering deeper and more detailed search responses instead of basic reverse image results.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), the leading privacy watchdog for many US tech firms in the EU, is investigating Google’s handling of user data. The inquiry will examine whether Google sufficiently protected the personal information of the EU citizens before using it to develop its advanced AI model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2). The investigation is part of a broader effort by the DPC, working alongside other EU regulators to ensure compliance with data protection laws, especially in developing AI technologies.

Why does this matter?

The investigation is the fruit of growing concerns in the EU over how tech giants handle personal data, particularly in the context of AI, which relies heavily on large datasets. The DPC’s inquiry into Google’s data practices follows a recent agreement by social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) not to use personal data from the EU users for AI training without first offering them the option to withdraw consent.