The Vermont senator and leader of American progressivism, Bernie Sanders, has raised his voice against large technology companies for their massive use of personal data in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). In a recent video, the Democrat holds a conversation with Claude, an AI system developed by Anthropic, in which he interrogates the tool about the magnitude of data collection and its effects on society.
During the dialogue, the AI reveals alarming information about the extent of data collection by technology corporations. According to Claude, companies collect data of various kinds: from browsing history and user location, to their purchases, online searches, and even the time they remain on each web page.
"They are feeding AI systems that create incredibly detailed profiles about you", the AI points out, emphasizing that users often do not know the extent to which they have given their consent. "They have no idea that their data is combined with thousands of others to create a picture of who they are", adds Claude. The AI emphasizes that people, by accepting the terms of use without reading them, allow their data to be used for commercial purposes massively and largely invisibly.
Commercial and political manipulation
The conversation also addresses the consequences of this data collection. Claude explains that large companies use detailed profiles to determine what ads to offer, what prices to show and even what content is prioritized on social media. All this process occurs in a hidden manner, without the supervision of adequate regulation.
When Sanders asks about the objective of this massive collection of information, the AI responds bluntly: "Money". "Companies collect this data because AI allows them to convert it into valuable information. Advertisers pay high prices for access to these detailed profiles because they are incredibly effective at manipulating consumer behavior", explains Claude.
The conversation also touches on a crucial topic: the political use of these systems. The AI points out that electoral campaigns are using these tools to persuade voters, personalizing messages and modifying strategies based on the profiles obtained. Furthermore, the tool warns about the buying and selling of personal information without the citizens' knowledge: "Your attention, your behavior, and your choices have become a commodity", Claude summarizes.
Privacy as a pillar of democracy
At the end of the conversation, Sanders poses one last crucial question about the threats that AI represents for citizens' privacy. The AI's answer is clear: "Privacy is not just a personal matter, it is a matter of democracy". The AI highlights that the accumulation of data by large companies and governments grants immense power to influence the behavior and decisions of the population.
Sanders, with his characteristic emphasis on the protection of civil rights and equity, has elevated this debate as a key issue for American democracy. The revelations about the use of AI in data collection could have significant implications, not only for individual privacy, but also for the manipulation of popular will through politics and commerce.
This questioning by Sanders of the practices of big tech companies puts on the table an urgent discussion about how to guarantee the protection of citizens' fundamental rights in the digital era.