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NEC Unveils “NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles”

– Even greater prioritisation of privacy and human rights in relation to AI and biometrics data –

Tokyo, April 2, 2019

NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has today released the “NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles”. These core principles will further strengthen NEC’s efforts to demonstrate respect for privacy and human rights in relation to the application and utilisation of AI and biometrics data across all businesses.

These principles will guide employees of NEC to prioritise privacy and human rights considerations in each and every stage of the NEC Group’s business operations along with compliance with all relevant laws and regulations globally.

In accordance with these principles, the NEC Group is committed to the three following initiatives:

  1. Ensure that all products and services are implemented and utilised by NEC employees, customers and partners appropriately
  2. Continue to develop advanced technology and talent to further promote AI utilisation
  3. Engage with a range of stakeholders to build partnerships and collaborate with closely

There are increased needs for the application of services and products associated with AI utilisation as a way of providing innovative solutions to address challenges in the world today. This trend has prompted a global debate about data privacy in relation to AI utilisation and advancement of technology. Therefore, it has become increasingly important to formulate principles and implement regulations that take into consideration an individual’s right to privacy with respect to AI utilisation.

In order to address challenges that may arise from advancement in AI and technology, NEC established the Data Distribution Strategy Office in April 2017, followed by the Digital Trust Business Strategy Division (refer to Note 1) in October 2018. The new division has been focused on developing corporate strategies and policy recommendations based on the concept of Human Rights by Design (HRbD). This approach helps to build the concept of privacy and fairness into each business process.

NEC, led by the Digital Trust Business Strategy Division, developed these principles in collaboration with its internal business divisions, including the Technology, Sustainability, Risk Management, and Marketing divisions, as well as external stakeholders, such as industry experts and non-profit organisations. Going forward, NEC will develop business activities based on these principles. 

NEC promotes its Social Solution Business through the utilisation of advanced AI solutions from “NEC the WISE” (refer to Note 2), IoT technologies, and “Bio-Idiom” (refer to Note 3), which enables instant authentication using face, iris, fingerprint, palm print, pulse, and acoustic data.

NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles – PDF


(Note 1) Press release

NEC establishes Digital Trust Business Strategy Division
https://www.nec.com/en/press/201810/global_20181001_03.html

(Note 2)

‘NEC the WISE’ is NEC’s portfolio of AI technologies.
Press release: NEC announces new AI technology brand, “NEC the WISE”
https://www.nec.com/en/press/201607/global_20160719_01.html

(Note 3)

NEC’s multimodal biometric authentication brand, Bio-IDiom
https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/biometrics/index.html


About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. The NEC Group globally provides “Solutions for Society” that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company’s corporate message of “Orchestrating a brighter world,” NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.

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