Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Healthcare: Applications and Legal Regulation

Abstract

Digitalization of almost all human activity areas has affected such a strategic sector as healthcare. Modern medicine has a huge potential for improving the quality of healthcare at the global level. It became possible due to the fact that it is based on advanced technologies for collecting «Big data», machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many of the «digital health» algorithms are being successfully used in consumer applications for smartphones. Nevertheless, newly emerging legal challenges in the area appear to be rather significant. Unfortunately, modern legislation is unable to take them all into account. Core issues are: torts (and liability in general), when using AI systems; privacy issues, when processing Big Data; intellectual property matters, trade secrets, etc. The purpose of this piece of research is to identify the main areas of AI and Big Data application in healthcare, as well as highlighting the most acute aspects of its legal regulation.