Protecting citizens’ privacy has become extremely important when using artificial intelligence, says Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Speaking during the World Consumer Right Day (WCRD), held by NCC in Abuja, the EVC said consumers are the most important part of any business, and their protection is of utmost importance, particularly in the telecoms sector.
Dr. Maida who was represented by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, the executive commissioner, Technical Services Designate at NCC, said the consumer’s rights included the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard.
Consistent with the above, he said the Commission has over the years kept faith with this date (March 15) to highlight the important position the telecom consumers occupy in the telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria, in order to uphold the rights of consumer which have evolved over the years with additional new consumer rights like the right to privacy, the right to quality of service, the right to timely redress, right to action on disputed charges, right to fair complaint process and right to accurate billing.
The Commission in alignment with the global trend adopted the theme for this years’ edition of World Consumer Rights Day as “Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer” .
Highlighting the significance of the theme, Dr. Maida, said that AI is a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of scientists, engineers, and thinkers for decades.
“It represents the culmination of human innovation and the quest to create machines that can mimic human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.
“AI has already made significant inroads into our lives. From voice assistants that respond to our commands to recommendation algorithms that suggest what we should watch, read, or buy, AI is all around us. It’s driving innovation in healthcare, finance, transportation, and countless other fields.
“Conversely, with inordinate power comes great obligation. As we celebrate the advancements in AI, we must also grapple with ethical questions. How do we ensure that AI systems are fair and unbiased? How do we protect privacy in an age of data-driven AI? These are complex issues that require careful consideration”, Maida said.
Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer
The EVC added that using AI responsibly is crucial in order to guarantee consumer trust and circumvent possible problems.
“Responsible AI means using it in an ethical way throughout its development, deployment, and usage. This includes considering issues like bias, privacy, transparency, and accountability. According to reports, responsible AI aims to empower consumers, build trust, and minimize negative effects.
To this effect, he said, AI developers need to be transparent about the data, algorithms, and models used in AI systems.
“This ensures that decisions made by AI can be explained and mistakes can be fixed to ensure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background. This helps prevent biased decisions or discrimination thereby promoting inclusivity and equality”, he explained.
He advised that organizations should handle personal data responsibly, following strict privacy regulations.
“Respecting privacy builds trust in AI systems. Responsible AI requires mechanisms for holding systems accountable and explaining their decisions. Consumers should understand how AI systems work and have a way to address issues or biases.
NCC’s efforts to protect consumers
The NCC boss said, the Commission in pursuit to join the global community to advance digital services and enhance quality communications infrastructure for the benefit of the citizenry, conducted a globally acclaimed most transparent auction for 5G services in Nigeria firstly on December 13th 2021 and secondly on December 5th 2022.
The first auction saw the emergence of MTN and MAFAB as the successful bidders while Airtel Networks Nigeria emerged as the sole bidder at the second auction.
Since the emergence of these operators as providers of 5G services in Nigeria, there has been a steady growth in the development and deployment AI systems and services and the Commission has been constantly ensuring that the growth is the right direction that guarantees value addition to Consumer satisfaction and experience as well as ensuring economic growth.
Takeaways
- Developing regulations and policies to govern AI deployment can be complex and as well as playing catch up due to technological advancements.
- Although most Legislative and governing Bodies are looking to regulate this technology, there has been continuous struggle to strike the right balance between risk mitigation and stifling innovation, while promoting innovation and ensuring security and trust.
- In this era that has seen the rise of AI and IoT cybersecurity, it is important to break silos and foster collaboration of the Quadruple Helix Innovation model comprising of the Academia, the Industry, Government and Society to share ideas.
- AI developers and Regulators have to ensure AI system algorithms consider, ethics and inclusivity.
