The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has canvassed the need for development fair and responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for the protection of telecommunication customers globally.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and CEO of the commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, gave this charge to technology experts in his remarks at the 2024 World Consumer Rights Day, held at the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Represented at the event by the commission’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services Designate, Mr Abraham Oshadami, the EVC said consumers were the most important part of any business, and their protection should be of utmost importance to technologists and others.
The industry regulator pointed out that the World Consumer Rights Day was being celebrated on 15th of March each year to raise awareness about the rights of consumers worldwide and protect them from unfair trade practices.
Maida traced the history of World Consumer Rights Day back to 1962 with the introduction of four basic consumer rights by President John F. Kennedy in his speech to the US Congress, adding that “these rights included the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard.”
He explained that consistent with the consumer rights, as espoused by the late American president, NCC had, over the years, set out the date to highlight the important position the telecom consumers occupy in the telecommunications ecosystem in the country in order to uphold the rights of consumer which have evolved over the years with additional new consumer rights.
According to him, the rights include right to privacy, the right to quality of service, right to timely redress, right to action on disputed charges, right to fair complaint process and right to accurate billing.
He clarified: “The Commission, in alignment with the global trend, adopted the theme for this years’ edition of World Consumer Rights Day as “Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer”.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of scientists, engineers, and thinkers for decades.
“It represents the culmination of human innovation and the quest to create machines that can mimic human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.
“AI has already made significant inroads into our lives. From voice assistants that respond to our commands to recommendation algorithms that suggest what we should watch, read, or buy, AI is all around us.
“It is driving innovation in healthcare, finance, transportation, and countless other fields.
“Conversely, with inordinate power comes great obligation. As we celebrate the advancements in AI, we must also grapple with ethical questions.
“How do we ensure that AI systems are fair and unbiased? How do we protect privacy in an age of data-driven AI? These are complex issues that require careful consideration.
““Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer”. Using AI responsibly is crucial in order to guarantee consumer trust and circumvent possible problems.
“Responsible AI means using it in an ethical way throughout its development, deployment, and usage. This includes considering issues like bias, privacy, transparency and accountability.
“According to reports, responsible AI aims to empower consumers, build trust, and minimise negative effects.
“To this effect AI developers need to be transparent about the data, algorithms, and models used in AI systems.
“This ensures that decisions made by AI can be explained and mistakes can be fixed to ensure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background.
“This helps prevent biased decisions or discrimination thereby promoting inclusivity and equality”, Maida added.
He further maintained that protecting citizens’ privacy remained extremely important when using AI and charged organisations to handle personal data responsibly, following strict privacy regulations as respecting privacy builds trust in AI systems.
The EVC noted that responsible AI required mechanisms for holding systems accountable and explaining their decisions and thatconsumers should understand how AI systems work and have a way to address issues or biases,” Maida declared.
Earlier in his welcome address, the NCC’s Deputy Director (Consumer Affair’s Bureau), Mr Clem Omife, said the World Consumer Rights Day was set aside to highlight the rights of consumers and protect them from exploitation, discrimination, and other forms of unfair practices.
According to him, at the NCC, telecom consumers are kings because they provide the major drive and essence of our activities.
He said: “The Commission recognises the important position the consumers occupy in the telecommunications ecosystem, and therefore will continue develop and promote consumer centric initiatives aimed at ensuring that the rights of consumers are protected.”
Omife assured that consumers would continue to occupy a special position in the commission’s activities because without the consumers, there will be no telecommunication industry.
