HK privacy watchdog and 60 global counterparts issue joint warning on AI-generated harmful imagery

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog, alongside nearly 60 of its international counterparts, issued a joint statement on Monday raising alarms over the creation of harmful and non-consensual imagery generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), the statement expresses deep concern about AI systems that produce realistic but fabricated images and videos of identifiable individuals without their knowledge or consent. 

Signatories include privacy and data protection authorities from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK.

“The use of AI systems to generate indecent or malicious photos and videos of individuals, especially children, has recently raised concerns of regulatory authorities in Hong Kong and other areas worldwide,” said Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Ada Chung Lai-ling.

The co-signatories called on organisations that develop and use AI content-generation systems to adopt a series of measures to protect fundamental rights, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups. 

These include implementing robust safeguards to prevent the misuse of personal information, ensuring transparency about AI system capabilities, providing accessible mechanisms for individuals to request the removal of harmful content, and addressing specific risks to children through enhanced, age-appropriate protections.

The joint statement was initiated through the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IEWG) of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA), the leading international forum for data protection authorities. 

The PCPD currently co-chairs the IEWG, which focuses on cross-jurisdictional enforcement and collaboration.