ELI’s first Industry Event, which brought together a high-level panel to address the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), data protection and regulatory standards, had a broader aim of putting the organisation on the radar of the Irish legal community, at a time when AI and data processing are playing revolutionary roles.
In a panel chaired by Gerard Hogan (Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland), Sir Geoffrey Vos (ELI Vice-President; Judge; Master of the Rolls and the Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales), among other things, identified two challenges: first, the implications of the GDPR’s Article 22, which restricts automated decision-making that significantly impacts individual rights, creating complexities for governments and businesses; and second, the concerns surrounding the use of public data for training AI models, particularly regarding copyright and consent.
Jeremy Godfrey (Chair Comisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Media Regulator) discussed the crucial role of data protection authorities (DPAs) and the proactive advice required to deal with the rapidly changing AI landscape. He underlined the need for precise instructions to connect the GDPR with the AI Act, stressing that DPAs are essential in promoting uniform GDPR interpretations, particularly as AI applications grow.
Emma Redmond (Associate General Counsel and Head of Privacy and Data Protection, Open AI) highlighted the transformative impact of AI since the launch of ChatGPT and discussed the roles of the GDPR and the AI Act in ensuring compliance and public trust. She emphasised the need for transparency through system cards and advocated for ‘privacy by design’ in the AI lifecycle. In closing, Redmond called for collaboration among industry, regulators, and the public to navigate AI’s complexities responsibly, while leveraging its potential to address global challenges.
Irene Nicolaidou (Deputy Chair, European Data Protection Board) discussed the relationship between the GDPR and the AI Act, emphasising their complementary roles, with the GDPR serving as a principle-based framework and the AI Act focusing on risk management. She outlined three scenarios for their applicability, highlighting that compliance with one does not guarantee compliance with the other. Nicolaidou stressed the significance of the fundamental GDPR principles as well as the function of the Data Protection Authorities (DPA) in supplying direction and encouraging cooperation across regulators.
The exchange of views was followed by a lively discussion.
The Industry Event was followed by ELI’s Opening Reception, which featured speeches by Barry McCarthy (President, the Law Society of Ireland) and Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the Gender Equality Advisory Committee to the G7), and ELI’s Young Lawyers Award. More here.
