KaKao

- The Tech for Good Committee will be established to inspect the technological ethics of the KakaoGroup and seek ways to develop it together with the society.

- The Committee will perform systematic policy improvement such as compliance with Group service ethics regulation, risk assessment and algorithm transparency enhancement.

- Kakao will also create an organization dedicated to technology ethics in each Group, have regular meetings and establish the Human Rights and Tech Ethics Team to develop related policies.

 

[July 25, 2022] Kakao, led by Namgoong Hoon and Hong Eun-taek, will establish a technology ethics committee for the first time among Korean companies and step up its moves to fulfill social responsibilities using technology.

 

Kakao’s Corporate Alignment Center (CAC) announced on the 25th that the company will establish the Tech for Good Committee to inspect the technological ethics of the entire KakaoGroup and to seek ways to develop it together with the society.

 

Kakao’s Tech for Good Committee will perform systematic policy improvement such as compliance with AI ethics regulation by services provided by the KakaoGroup, risk assessment and algorithm transparency enhancement. The committee will be headed by Lee Chae-Young, head of Kakao’s technology division, and eight members including Ahn Yang-Soo (CTO of Kakao Games), Na Ho-Yeol (CTO of Kakao Pay), Kim Ki-Beom (CTO of Kakao Entertainment), Yoo Seung-Il (CTO of Kakao Mobility), Kang Seong (Senior EVP of Kakao Entertainment), Kim Kwang-Seop (CTO of Kakao Brain), and Kim Dae-Won (Head of the Human Rights and Tech Ethics Team). Kakao Bank will also participate in the discussion of the Tech for Good Committee.

 

The committee plans to actively seek practical ways to enhance social values, such as developing technology and ethics in a healthy and harmonious manner and promoting the health of the digital society. To this end, it was decided to create a dedicated technical ethics organization within each Group and hold regular meetings on related issues.

 

Kakao has consistently made efforts to practice technological ethics in line with the pace of IT technology development. In January 2018, the Internet giant designed and announced the AI Algoritm Ethics Code for the first time among Korean companies, expressing its will to develop and operate algorithms based on its own principles and philosophy. Last year, it organized AI algorithm ethics training for all employees.

 

Meanwhile, along with the establishment of the Tech for Good Committee, Kakao also created the Human Rights and Tech Ethics Team responsible for policy development related to human rights and tech ethics as part of its ESG initiatives. The team plans to analyze international human rights norms and domestic and international human rights management policies, and based on this, to suggest directions for human rights-friendly management activities in the KakaoGroup. It will also be responsible for stepping up policies related to tech ethics such as ▲establishment of algorithm ethics, ▲improvement of digital inclusion and accessibility, and ▲user and privacy protection.

 

Kakao CEO Hong Eun-taek commented, “Kakao will fulfill its responsibilities as a leading IT technology company and establish itself as an organization that discusses in depth ways to contribute to the sustainability of society. We plan to take the lead in helping the KakaoGroup build safe and healthy technology ethics together.” (End)