Head of Information Security and DPO at Eletronorte

Fábio Solon, Head of Information Security and DPO at Eletronorte

Though scientists may still be decades away from achieving super artificial intelligence, the pervasive impact of today's artificial intelligence (AI) on multiple societal sectors is undeniable. It augments systems, rendering them more efficient, and plays a pivotal role in decisions that demand intricate analysis and correlation of countless variables. Specifically, within the realm of information security, the footprint of AI is prominently felt. The industry is being continually flooded with tools that, in real-time, autonomously learn, evaluate, and make decisions within the cyber domain. For this intricate machinery to operate, AI hinges on a very distinct fuel: data. Owing to the vast and complex nature of this data, AI emerges as a double-edged instrument, harnessed by individuals, corporations, and governments alike, for benevolent and nefarious objectives. This situates us in a burgeoning digital arms race. So, what powers the escalating technological momentum of this race?

British researcher Stuart Russel, in his work ‘Artificial Intelligence for Our Benefit,’ draws a parallel between the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (known as STASI) of East Germany and the invasion of privacy we witness in our lives today. Established in 1950, it was regarded as the most oppressive intelligence agency, boasting the most efficient secret police that ever existed. They surveilled the German populace through numerous information sources such as phone calls, letters, concealed cameras, and tracking individuals' movements, all with the intent of quashing opposition through psychological torture, imprisonment, or execution. Russel posits that today, even in comparatively free nations, we're under the surveillance of major corporations and governments in ways that make the STASI, in his words, seem like an ‘amateur hour.’

"It’s paramount that individuals and organizations mobilize and actively engage in discussions surrounding AI governance, ensuring a secure, transparent, and pertinent digital future for all"

Just as the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit kept tabs on its citizens, our information is ceaselessly harvested and scrutinized today. Often, both individuals and companies unwittingly trade their information for enticing digital amenities, sometimes even at a cost. This collection takes place across various platforms, encompassing operating systems, entertainment platforms, such as games and shopping websites, communication tools like emails and virtual assistants, connected home devices, social media apps, and cloud-based enterprise solutions. The alarming awareness campaign by Deutsche Telekom vividly illustrates this landscape. In their video, they depict how data gleaned from social networks can be employed by AI to orchestrate various forms of attacks on an individual. Regrettably, our grasp on how these entities handle our data is often scant, and in some scenarios, these insights are deliberately concealed.

Toward an Ethical Framework