Image courtesy of Kakao
Kakao (CEO Shina Chung) participated in the 13th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, held from November 25 to 27 in Geneva, Switzerland. Organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the annual forum aims to enhance the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The event brought together stakeholders from governments, corporations, communities, UN agencies, human rights organizations, and academia, with approximately 4,000 attendees, including global internet and IT experts.
On the first day, Kakao presented its “Ethics for Healthy Interaction Between AI and Users” during the opening session titled “Responsible Business Conduct in the AI Sector.” Jinhwa Ha, Manager of Kakao’s ESG Committee within the Corporate Alignment Council, detailed Kakao’s multi-faceted efforts to protect user rights as a tech company. The presentation introduced a newly added clause to Kakao’s AI Ethics principles, emphasizing Kakao’s alignment with evolving technological and societal trends.
The new clause, “User Autonomy,” highlights the importance of preventing excessive dependence on AI and ensuring safety from physical, mental, and social risks. It was developed in collaboration with the Korean Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethics.
Kakao was the first Korean company to declare an “Algorithm Ethics Charter” in January 2018. Since then, the company has made three updates to address inclusivity (2019), the protection of children and adolescents (2020), and privacy (2022). In July 2022, Kakao established the Community Technology Ethics Committee to assess ethical practices across its affiliates and foster a symbiotic relationship between technology and society. In March 2023, this committee restructured the ethics charter into a comprehensive “Kakao Group Responsible AI Guidelines.”
The updated AI ethics framework includes ten principles: inclusivity, transparency, privacy, user protection, and the newly added “User Autonomy.”
Professor Sunyong Byun, President of the Korean Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethics and a Seoul National University of Education professor, praised the new clause: “Emphasizing user autonomy and safety addresses critical issues of over-dependence and over-immersion in AI-driven services. Kakao’s commitment to strengthening AI ethics is vital for responsible innovation in the AI service sector.”
Sangho Lee, Leader of Kakao’s Technology Ethics Subcommittee, reaffirmed the company’s dedication, saying, “Kakao will refine and implement policies to ensure our AI technologies and services contribute to a safer, more inclusive, and trustworthy future.”
