Fantastic interfaces and where to regulate them: Three provocative privacy reflections on truth, deception and what lies between

Abstract

Speech Interfaces represent a new interactive phenomenon, which entails massive personal data processing. The spectrum of legal issues that arises from this interaction impacts both user privacy and social relationships. This study addresses three potential issues or ‘provocations’ relating to speech interaction that illustrate the challenges and complexity of this socio-legal domain: (i) the potential for lying; (ii) the possibility of breaching the law; (iii) the ability to interpret an order. It deploys an in-depth analysis of the related legal consequences and implications with the scope to prompt discussion around these provocative issues. It first provides an overview of the correct hermeneutical approach to frame legal paradigms, highlighting the crucial legal aspects, conceptual approaches and interpretations to be considered when addressing the whole ‘interactive artificial agents’ (IAA) phenomenon. The study adopts the classical Civil Law system’s methodology (qualitative/top-down analytical). The core of the study then focuses on the three provocations as connected by personal data processing. The goal is to provide a critical legal analysis of those interfaces that could impact the foundation of human socio-legal interrelations. By raising awareness of these controversial aspects, the work contributes to fostering further discussion about interdisciplinary privacy issues that stand at the intersection of Law, Social Sciences and HCI design, and that cross-pollinate each other.