Kaspersky has unveiled a comprehensive set of ethical principles to guide the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the realm of cybersecurity. These principles, presented as part of the UN Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan, reinforce Kaspersky’s unwavering commitment to transparent, responsible, and secure technological advancement.
The company has been at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation for nearly two decades, integrating ML algorithms, a subset of AI, into its solutions. The symbiotic relationship between human expertise and AI has empowered Kaspersky’s solutions to efficiently detect and counter new and evolving threats, automate threat detection, recognise anomalies, and enhance malware identification accuracy.
The six ethical principles articulated by Kaspersky are designed to set the industry standard for the development and use of AI and ML:
- Transparency: Kaspersky emphasises the importance of companies informing their customers about the incorporation of AI and ML technologies in their products and services. They achieve this through maximum interpretability in their AI/ML systems and by sharing operational information with stakeholders.
- Safety: Kaspersky ensures the quality and security of AI/ML systems through rigorous security audits specific to ML/AI, reducing reliance on third-party datasets during training, and favouring cloud-based ML technologies with robust safeguards.
- Human control: Recognising the complexity of threats, including Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Kaspersky commits to maintaining human control as a vital element of all AI/ML systems, enabling effective protection against constantly evolving challenges.
- Privacy: The protection of individual privacy is paramount, and Kaspersky implements technical and organisational measures to safeguard user data and uphold privacy rights.
- Commitment to cybersecurity purposes: Kaspersky dedicates its AI/ML systems solely to defensive purposes, aligning with its mission to create a safer world and protect user data.
- Openness to dialogue: Kaspersky encourages open collaboration with all stakeholders to promote best practices in the ethical use of AI. They believe that ongoing dialogue among stakeholders is essential for overcoming obstacles and driving innovation.
Kaspersky’s Chief Technology Officer, Anton Ivanov, highlighted the potential benefits of AI in the cybersecurity industry but acknowledged associated risks. He underscored the importance of sharing ethical guidelines and fostering an industry-wide dialogue to ensure responsible AI and ML development.
The release of these ethical principles is an extension of Kaspersky’s Global Transparency Initiative, which aims to promote transparency and accountability among technology providers to create a more resilient and secure digital world. To learn more about this initiative and Kaspersky’s transparency principles, you can request a visit to a Kaspersky Transparency Centre.
