AI in Cybersecurity: Ethical Challenges of AI-Based Intrusion Detection Systems: A Comparative Analysis of EU, U.S., and South Korea

rihab karoud (cybersecurity)

International Journal of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (IJAIC)
Vol 2 No 1 (March 2026)

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly used in the field of cybersecurity, especially in the development of intrusion detection systems (IDS). The conventional approach to developing intrusion detection systems involves the use of rule-based systems as well as signatures of attacks. However, this approach has been criticized for its inability to deal with emerging threats such as zero-day exploits. This has led to the development of intrusion detection systems that incorporate the concept of machine learning in the analysis of network activities. This approach has been effective in the detection of anomalies that could be indicative of malicious activities. However, the use of this approach in the development of intrusion detection systems has raised ethical issues. This paper seeks to discuss the ethical issues surrounding the application of AI-based intrusion detection systems by first presenting an overview of the technical basis of the systems and the technical benefits they offer. Secondly, the paper will discuss the ethical issues surrounding the application of the system. Some of the ethical issues discussed will include the lack of explainability of machine learning algorithms, the possibility of biased decision-making by the system, and the ethical issues surrounding the collection of large amounts of personal information. Additionally, the paper will discuss the technical solutions to the ethical issues surrounding the application of the system. Some of the technical solutions to the ethical issues will include the application of explainable AI, federated learning, differential privacy, and synthetic data. Lastly, the paper will discuss the regulatory frameworks adopted by the European Union, the US, and South Korea regarding the application of the system. The analysis identifies the gaps in the regulations as well as the technical limitations in the ethical use of AI-based IDS. The study offers recommendations to improve the design of AI-based IDS. The study emphasizes the need to strike a balance between the increasing technical capabilities of AI systems and the need to have proper ethical and regulatory checks in the use of AI in cybersecurity.