UK and US Crown Winners in Privacy Tech Showdown at Democracy Summit
In a transatlantic race to protect privacy while boosting innovation, the UK and US have revealed the winners of their cutting-edge Prize Challenges at the second Summit for Democracy. The contests pushed the boundaries of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) — tools that safeguard sensitive data while leveraging AI to tackle global issues.
Privacy Tech Race Targets Pandemic and Financial Crime
- Launched in December 2021, the challenges rallied top brains from academia, tech giants, and start-ups on both sides of the Atlantic.
- They focused on two key battlefields: forecasting the spread of pandemics and spotting financial crime.
- Entrants had to create AI models that improved predictions without exposing private info — blending multiple PETs to keep data locked down.
Red Teams Put Privacy Promises to the Test
The finalists faced fierce “red team” hacking attempts aiming to reveal the secret data behind their AI. Only the toughest solutions, with ironclad privacy guarantees, took the crown. UK contenders also had expert advice from the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure their tech played by local data protection rules.
Experts Praise Privacy Tech in Upholding Democratic Values
Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science: “Never before has our privacy been so important. We must protect democratic values by safeguarding the right to privacy. That’s why the UK and allies are teaming up to create tech that fights financial crime and promotes public health — all without compromising sensitive data.”
John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner: “Privacy-enhancing technologies enable responsible, lawful data analysis. Regulators and industry must continue to work together to support innovation that respects privacy.”
Arati Prabhakar, White House Science Director: “Data can solve huge shared problems, but most data is sensitive and needs protection. PETs are the key to unlocking data’s value while protecting privacy. Democracies must unite to advance these powerful tools.”
Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce: “Congratulations to all winners proving AI can solve society’s challenges while protecting privacy. Upholding democratic values is critical as we harness AI for the public good.”
Sethuraman Panchanathan, US NSF Director: “International collaboration speeds tech development and global solutions. The PET prize challenges are galvanising innovation and driving wider adoption of privacy-enhancing tech.”
What’s Next? Transatlantic Tech Showcase and Collaboration
The UK and US will keep the momentum going with a joint Demo Day in London this May — building bridges between privacy researchers and officials. They’re also exploring new tools and guidance to help organisations responsibly adopt PETs and safeguard democracy in the digital age.
The Prize Challenges were delivered by a powerhouse lineup including the UK’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, Innovate UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office, NHS England Transformation, and US partners like NIST, NSF, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy – with support from financial watchdogs and tech leaders.
