Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery

The Agency of Access to Public Information, together with over 60 data protection authorities worldwide, issued a joint statement on AI-generated imagery and the protection of privacy, in response to growing concerns about the use of systems capable of generating realistic images and videos depicting identifiable individuals without their knowledge or their consent. The joint statement was issued in the framework of the Global Privacy Assembly’s International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group.

The document highlights that the expansion of these tools has significantly increased the ability to generate realistic content at scale, giving rise to new risk scenarios in terms of privacy and the use of personal images. In particular, the authorities identify as a key concern the use of these systems to produce harmful content involving real individuals, with especially significant impacts on children and other vulnerable groups, who may be exposed to cyberbullying, exploitation, and other forms of harm.

The signing authorities emphasized that organizations developing and deploying AI content generation systems must ensure compliance with applicable legal frameworks, particularly data protection and privacy laws.

In this sense, the statement sets out a number of guiding principles, including the implementation of safeguards to prevent the misuse of personal data and the creation of non-consensual images and other content, increased transparency regarding system capabilities and limitations, and the availability of effective mechanisms for individuals to request the removal of harmful content. It also underscores the need for enhanced protections for children, including measures to ensure access to clear, age-appropriate information for both children and their parents, tutors, and teachers.

The authorities further highlighted the importance of a coordinated regulatory response in light of the global nature of these risks. In this regard, they note that policy development and awareness initiatives, among others, may contribute to addressing the challenges associated with AI-generated content.

Finally, the statement calls on organizations to engage proactively with other regulators and to adopt technical and organizational measures that ensure respect for privacy, dignity, and other fundamental rights, particularly for individuals in vulnerable situations.