A legal expert at Knights believes there will need to be an “appropriate balance” between security and privacy when it comes to assessing the long-term concerns around Ring doorbell’s new AI pet finder.
The Search Party system, which launched late last year, has sparked privacy concerns after it appeared in an advert during the recent US Super Bowl. It uses artificial intelligence to analyse outdoor footage from “opted-in” doorbell cameras to find lost pets in the local area.
Commercial Partner at Knights, Tori Lethaby, said:
“While the use of Search Party, like many other AI systems, has the potential for good, there are also potentially significant risks depending on how it is used, in particular regarding ‘purpose creep’ and ‘permission creep’.
“The potential ‘purpose creep’ of Search Party includes expansion of use beyond pets, for example, tracking down missing elderly family members with dementia.
“However, what if this creeps into general monitoring, i.e. blurring the line between the security of privacy property and public space surveillance.
“Another concern is ‘permission creep’ where initial promises of user control morph in time into a more privacy intrusive default, especially when under pressure from the government or law enforcement.
“In an era of rapidly advancing technological and surveillance capabilities, striking the appropriate balance between security and privacy will be crucial to prevent the negative impacts of AI outweighing the good.
“Focusing on the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI, transparency, accountability and fairness, will become increasingly important to maximise the positive benefits of AI.”