Walters, Robert ORCID: 0000-0002-9157-9577 and Dewi Rosidi, Sinta (2022) Transnational flow of personal data in home and office devices. International Journal of Intelligent Information Systems, 11 (3). pp. 39-50. ISSN 2328-7675

Abstract

The world is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a rapid rate, and over the forthcoming decade it is likely to pervade the daily lives of everybody. Countries are developing, embracing and adopting AI at varying rates, some more rapidly than others. On the one hand, the application of AI in managing the smart home infrastructure will pave the way for personal data to be gathered from the automated devices. It will be that advanced, the technology will be able to predict user behaviour, provide maintenance data, help enhance data security and privacy. This can be achieved, by connecting devices throughout the homes by many different devices. Nonetheless, as people begin to adopt new technology in the home, or otherwise known as Smart Home technology (robots, televisions, fridges, toys etc.), the access to personal data will be on an unprecedented level. Conversely, the privacy intrusions may out-weigh the benefits of the technology. Apart from the social and economic benefits that AI will bring into the home, it will have it downsides. There is an emerging debate as to the safety of personal data, and privacy from these devices. In other words, what has emerged is the notion of dataveillance or behavioural data that, is able to detect and store specific data on and individual, enabling others to learn intimate knowledge of actions, moods and expression, amongst others. Arguably, some of the most vulnerable cohorts will be children, the disabled and elderly, from the use of this technology, and the personal data that entities are able to capture, and subsequently use for financial gain. Furthermore, problematic is the development of ‘behavioural data’. Behavioural data, has the ability to create significant bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability and language. Put another way, behavioural data has many similarities to dataveillance. This paper will briefly highlight how transnational data flows from the devices have the potential to create and restrict competition. The paper further confirms that a recent study in 2021, demonstrated that as this economic activity (data flows) grows there are increasing security concerns and issues that expose personal and commercial data. Further research is needed to reconcile the law with the technology, to ensure data flows are providing their intended economic benefits, with that of protecting the personal data captured and used by in home and office devices.

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