Dr. Sanaa Abdul Qader Mustafa / University Professor – Norway – PhD in Industrial Economics
The operational importance of artificial intelligence privacy in the Iraqi digital space lies in AI’s reliance on data as a primary source for learning and development. The data used include users’ behaviors, geographic locations, consumer preferences, and even biometric data. This intensive reliance makes data protection a strategic challenge. Privacy risks manifest in several aspects, including:
- Covert surveillance: Algorithms that track users online without explicit consent.
- Re-identification: The ability to link anonymized data to specific individuals.
- Discrimination and bias: In decision-making algorithms, potentially leading to unfair outcomes in areas such as employment and insurance.
- Security breaches: AI systems may become targets of cyberattacks aimed at sensitive data.
The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), adopted in 2018, incorporated legal and ethical dimensions and established a stringent framework regulating data collection and use. In contrast, the legislation of many Arab and developing countries, including Iraq, has yet to keep pace with technological challenges.
From an ethical standpoint, the issue of data ownership and individuals’ right to control their personal information is raised. Possible technical solutions include:
- Encryption, anonymization, and secure computing.
- Differential Privacy to ensure data protection during analysis.
- Transparency: obligating companies and institutions to disclose data collection policies.
- Accountability: establishing oversight bodies to hold entities that violate privacy accountable.
- Digital literacy: raising individuals’ awareness of the importance of protecting their data and how to control it.
