The ICO is researching how product and developer teams working with artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) driven recommendation systems apply technical and organisational measures to protect people from content related harm. The ICO is particularly interested in any measures put in place to protect children or other vulnerable communities. This could include measures to prevent material and non-material harm from advertising, inappropriate content or other adverse effects from profiling people and then delivering them content based on this profiling.

The ICO wants to hear from designers, engineers and product team members about how they consider data protection in the design of AI/ML driven recommendation systems so that it can create more practical support. By recommendation systems the ICO means everything from ad targeting to ranking and personalisation systems. Those interested in talking to the ICO’s research team should email ai@ico.org.uk with RECSYS in the subject line by 30 September 2022. To access the consultation, click here.