Concerns have been raised about SK Telecom excessively collecting personal information as it adds artificial intelligence (AI) functionality to its call platform ‘T Call.’ According to Representative Hwang Jeong-ah of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the recently launched ‘A.dot Call’ by SK Telecom, which incorporates AI functions, is understood to collect not only summarized call contents but also information such as text, voice, images, videos, documents, files, and other data entered by users.
A.dot Call recommends AI functions tailored to the situation, such as reminding users of key contents of summarized calls and schedules, performing functions similar to a real assistant. In addition to call recording and summarization, it also provides a feature to convert recorded call contents into text and organize key information with AI.
However, Representative Hwang pointed out that the description provided by SK Telecom regarding the collection of information for enhancing service performance through AI technology amounts to over 1,160 Korean characters. Specifically, in addition to summarized call contents and user-entered text, voice, images, videos, documents, files, URLs, the service also collects media usage history, contact and call records, fortune-telling and stock information, bookmarked channels, viewed news channels, Google Calendar, login tokens from external services, and schedules entered in those services.
Especially noteworthy is SK Telecom’s statement that it will store and retain text and voice information for two years, even if users withdraw from the service, indicating that the information will not be immediately deleted. In addition to concerns about excessive personal information collection, questions have been raised about potential violations of the Personal Information Protection Act. According to Article 16, Paragraph 3 of the Personal Information Protection Act, “A data controller shall not refuse to provide goods or services to the data subject simply because the data subject does not agree to the collection of personal information beyond the minimum necessary.”
Representative Hwang commented, “Big tech companies like Google and Meta have been fined for indiscriminately collecting personal information under the pretext of service usage. Keeping call contents stored even after service withdrawal poses a serious risk of privacy infringement and potential violations of the Personal Information Protection Act.” She emphasized the need for relevant ministries to conduct an investigation into the actual situation, questioning whether extensive information collection is essential for service provision.