EU regulators investigate Google AI model for privacy compliance

European Union regulators have initiated an investigation into Google’s Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM2) due to concerns regarding its adherence to the EU's stringent data privacy regulations. The inquiry, led by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, aims to determine if Google has adequately evaluated the potential risks PaLM2 poses to individual rights and freedoms within the EU. This scrutiny is part of a broader effort by various national watchdogs across the 27-nation bloc to ensure that artificial intelligence systems manage personal data responsibly. Google’s PaLM2 serves as a foundational technology for several generative AI applications, including email summarization. The inquiry reflects growing apprehension about how large language models, which process vast amounts of data, may impact user privacy. The Irish watchdog, acting as the lead regulator for Google in the EU, is particularly focused on whether the company has conducted a thorough risk assessment regarding the data processing activities of PaLM2. This investigation follows recent actions taken by the Irish Data Protection Commission against other tech companies. For instance, Elon Musk’s social media platform X agreed to halt the processing of user data for its AI chatbot Grok after legal pressure from the watchdog. Similarly, Meta Platforms paused its plans to utilize content from European users for training its latest language model after discussions with the regulators. The ongoing scrutiny of AI systems underscores the EU's commitment to enforcing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ensuring that companies prioritize user privacy in their technological advancements.