New guidance has been issued for European data watchdogs on the use of personal data for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued an opinion on the matter following a request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC).
The DPC submitted the request with a view to gaining European-wide regulatory harmonisation and clarity on a number of key issues.
The guidance deals with questions such as under what circumstances are AI models considered anonymous, and how should legitimate interest be considered as a legal basis for personal data processing to create, update and/or develop an AI model.
The DPC has welcomed the issuing of the guidance.
"In having made this request for an opinion, the DPC triggered a discussion, in which we participated, that led to this agreement at EDPB level, on some of the core issues that arise in the context of processing personal data for the development and deployment of AI models, thereby bringing some much needed clarity to this complex area," said DPC Commissioner Dr Des Hogan.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been critical of the European regulatory environment when it comes to AI, describing it as unpredictable and fragmented.
The company has said that regulatory barriers are a step backwards for European innovation and competition in AI development.
In July, Meta has said it would withhold the roll out of future 'multimodal' AI models in the EU after privacy concerns were raised by the DPC.
