GDPR change lets companies train AI on Europeans' personal data without consent (twitter.com)

The European Union has taken a significant step by approving a change to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that allows companies to train artificial intelligence models using the personal data of European citizens without requiring explicit consent. This change classifies AI training as a "legitimate interest," meaning companies can argue that the use of personal data is essential for their AI development, pending case-by-case evaluation. However, this decision still awaits approval from the European Parliament. This alteration is of great importance to the AI and machine learning community, as it may vastly expand the data pool available for AI training, potentially accelerating innovation and development in various sectors. Critics, including privacy advocate Max Schrems, portray this move as a "digital expropriation," raising concerns about the ethical implications surrounding individual data rights in an increasingly data-driven world. The technical implications are profound, as it could shift how companies approach data collection and use, emphasizing the necessity for transparent ethical guidelines in AI development to protect individual privacy while fostering technological progress.