brAInfood: Data protection & chatbots

Date of publication: March 2021 / Checked if updates were needed: March 2024

WHAT IS THIS BRAINFOOD ABOUT?

In this brAInfood - aimed at youngsters -, the Knowledge Centre Data & Society provides more information on the functioning of chatbots (What are chatbots? What technology do they use? How are they built?...) and about the data collected by chatbots (What data are collected? Who has access to the data?...). In doing so, we go deeper into the reliability of chatbots.

A fictional story starring Lotte demonstrates why data protection is important when using chatbots. This story can serve as an illustrative example to guide a conversation around chatbots in a classroom. How would students feel in Lotte's place? Do they think this situation is permissible?....

WHY SHOULD I READ THIS?

Chatbots are often used to offer a personalized service to (potential) customers or website visitors. They engage in an interactive conversation with their users. A technology that can give beautiful results, but we must also be attentive to the protection of our (personal) data with chatbots.

This brAInfood wants to make youngsters aware of how chatbots function and encourage them to reflect on the data that is collected from them. In this way, everyone can decide for themselves what is acceptable for them and where the line is drawn.

WHAT CAN I FIND OUT WHEN READING THIS?

This brAInfood of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society includes:

• A fictional story of Lotte (which can be used as an introduction for a conversation about chatbots);
• More information about how chatbots work;
  • What is a chatbot?
  • How do I recognize a chatbot?
  • How is a chatbot built?
  • What technology do chatbots use?
  • Can a chatbot help me?

• Learn more about the data that chatbots collect;
  • Who am I talking to?
  • What about my data?

• More information to report a chatbot if needed.