Data privacy in Malaysia with the emergence of big data and artificial intelligence

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) will be a key driving force of the new technological revolution in both the public and the private sectors. Big data harnesses, processes and analyses digital data. This is critical to the development of AI and machine learning. As AI utilises the power of computers to perform specific tasks carried out by humans, it can source a massive amount of information from big data that is publicly available. Together, big data and AI offer significant insights and opportunities for business growth and social development. Further, they can reduce costs and increase profitability for companies. There are undoubtedly enormous benefits for businesses developing and using big data and AI in areas such as the health and medical sector, transportation, financial services, marketing, agriculture, education and training, and cybersecurity. While big data and AI can offer opportunities and assist in the delivery of goods and services, there are threats posed to data protection. The aim of this article is to examine whether data protection laws and regulations in Malaysia can rise to the new challenges of data privacy with the emergence of big data and AI