Google's artificial intelligence company DeepMind is concerned that a letter written by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) could have a negative impact on its business if it is published, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
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A UK data regulator has found 'issues' with DeepMind's first NHS deal (GOOG)
The ICO has been investigating DMH's use of Royal Free data for its kidney monitoring app, which is known as Streams.
Streams started out as an app that could monitor patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) but it can now be used for a range of medical tasks.
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The letter — which DeepMind was expecting Sky News to publish on Friday — calls into question how DeepMind and the Royal Free handled NHS patient data, according to sources with knowledge of the letter.
The ICO has been looking into why the Royal Free gave DeepMind access to so much patient data for its kidney monitoring app, which is known as Streams.
The regulator tasked the National Data Guardian (NDG) with investigating the partnership between DeepMind and the Royal Free.
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The NDG was unhappy with the way the Royal Free used patient data to test that Streams was working safely, in advance of deploying it in care.
It concluded that "pre-deployment safety testing does not count as direct care for patients, and that implied consent is therefore not a sufficient basis," according to a document seen by Business Insider.
The ICO is planning to make its official verdict on the DeepMind partnership with the NHS public in the coming weeks.
DeepMind declined to comment.
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