A significant legal battle has been initiated in the UK, with Manchester-based law firm Barings Law launching a case against technology giants Microsoft and Google over the alleged improper use of consumer data in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The firm began this legal action following a two-year investigation into the tech companies' practices surrounding the use of personal data for AI training, a case that could potentially set a precedent in British law.
Barings Law’s inquiry focused on data such as voice recordings, location information, and images, which they claim were utilised without the informed consent of users to train advanced AI models, including Google’s latest AI system, Gemini. Since the firm’s initiative commenced in November 2024, more than 20,000 individuals have come forward as potential claimants. The formal notification of these allegations was sent to both Microsoft and Google last month, detailing the lack of user consent in handling personal data.
Court proceedings for this landmark case could begin as early as next week, marking the first legal action of its kind to be pursued in the UK concerning AI and data protection.
Adnan Malik, Head of Data Protection at Barings Law, spoke about the case to Law News, stating: “This is another step forward in what will no doubt be a landmark British case against two US technology giants. The first month of our action saw 10,000 people sign up as claimants, and that number has now doubled, sending a clear message that abuse of their personal, private data will not be tolerated. Our expert team at Barings Law has a proven track record in remedying significant and damaging data breaches, and we will continue to stand up for the privacy of all users.”
Barings Law is no stranger to high-profile data breach litigation, currently involved in proceedings related to a 2023 cyber-attack on the services company Capita, which compromised the personal information of hundreds of thousands of individuals.
The emergence of this case coincides with recent developments by both Microsoft and Google in their AI technologies. In April, Microsoft introduced a feature within its Copilot AI tool that captures repeated snapshots of users’ screen activities, a move that has been criticised by privacy advocates as a “privacy nightmare.” Meanwhile, Google has expanded the capabilities of its Gemini AI to include the ability to search through and identify private photos stored on users’ devices.
Mr Malik also highlighted the broader implications of this case, warning of future legal challenges as AI becomes more embedded in everyday life. “This case may be the first of its kind in the UK, but it will not be the last. As global tech corporations continue to play fast and loose with their customers’ personal data, we have to be more vigorous than ever in demanding accountability and justice for everyone affected,” he said.
As this case progresses, it is set to draw significant attention to the practices of major technology companies in the realm of personal data usage for AI development, potentially shaping how such issues are handled legally in the UK going forward.
Source: Noah Wire Services