Personal Information Commission Holds Regulatory Rationalization Meeting with Autonomous Vehicle Industry: "Balancing Personal Data Protection and Innovation"

The Personal Information Protection Commission announced on the 23rd that Chairperson Song Kyunghee held an on-site meeting with companies in the autonomous vehicle and robotics sectors to discuss the rationalization of personal information regulations.

The meeting, held at Hyundai Motorstudio in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, was attended by six domestic companies developing autonomous vehicles and robots: Hyundai Motor Company, Neubility, Woowa Brothers, Kakao Mobility, Autonomous A2Z, and RideFlux.

On the 14th, Song Kyunghee, the Chairperson, is speaking at the 1st Plenary Meeting of the Personal Information Protection Commission held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu. January 14, 2026. Photo by Jo Yongjun

This meeting was a follow-up measure to the rationalization of regulations in the autonomous driving and robotics industries, which was discussed at the 1st Core Regulation Rationalization Strategy Meeting last year.

During the meeting, the Commission explained its policy direction for rationalizing personal information regulations to facilitate the advancement of autonomous driving artificial intelligence (AI). The key focus is on enabling the safe and efficient use of original video data recorded by autonomous vehicles and robots during operation.

The Commission announced a plan to rationalize the safety standards for regulatory sandbox demonstration exemptions, allowing companies to designate locations where the use of original video data is necessary under their own responsibility. This plan aims to improve the system so that companies can independently set such locations as needed.

In addition, legislative improvements were announced to prepare for the transition to AI, including the establishment of special exemptions for AI and expanding the legal grounds for the lawful processing of data. The Commission also presented improvement measures such as publishing various AI-related guides and technical manuals, as well as initiatives like the regulatory sandbox, prior adequacy reviews, and no-action letters.

The Commission stated, "We will create an environment where AI development companies can resolve regulatory uncertainties and focus on creative research and development." It also urged the industry to establish responsible data utilization systems, emphasizing that since data collected by autonomous vehicles and robots may contain information about specific individuals, companies must ensure accountability in their data practices.

The companies attending the meeting welcomed the Commission's regulatory rationalization policy. At the same time, they requested prompt regulatory improvements and active support, noting the intensifying global competition in the field of autonomous driving AI.

Chairperson Song Kyunghee stated, "Personal information protection is a fundamental prerequisite for building customer trust and is a core value not only in AI but across all industries." She added, "The Commission will continue to listen to voices from the field and support companies in achieving both personal information protection and innovation in harmony through tools such as the regulatory sandbox and prior adequacy reviews."

Meanwhile, prior to the meeting, Chairperson Song and the participants toured Hyundai Motorstudio to view automotive manufacturing robots and the latest safety technologies applied to vehicles.