When Machine Learning Meets Privacy in 6G: A Survey

The rapid-developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, fast-growing network traffic, and emerging intelligent applications (e.g., autonomous driving, virtual reality, etc.) urgently require a new, faster, more reliable and flexible network form. At this time, researchers in both industry and academia have turned their attention to the sixth generation (6G) communication networks. In the 6G vision, various intelligent application scenarios that utilize Machine Learning (ML) technology (the most important branch of AI) will bring rich heterogeneous connections, as well as massive information storage and operations. When ML meets 6G, new opportunities will emerge along with numerous privacy challenges. On one hand, a secure ML structure, or the correct application of ML, can protect privacy in 6G. On the other hand, ML may be attacked or abused, resulting in privacy violation. It is worth noting that the alliance between 6G and ML may also be a double-edged sword in many cases, rather than absolutely infringe or protect privacy. Therefore, based on lots of existing meaningful works, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey of ML and privacy in 6G, with a view to further promoting the development of 6G and privacy protection technologies.

I. Introduction

With the dramatic development of intelligent terminals and the new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven applications, such as intelligent vehicles [1], space-air-ground integrated networks [2], smart healthcare, and full-sensory digital reality, the fifth generation (5G) communication networks being deployed all over the world cannot fully meet the challenges brought by the rapid increase of traffic and the real-time requirement of services [3]. Industry and academia are already working together towards the sixth generation (6G) communication networks. Unlike previous generations of cellular networks, 6G is required to support a wide range of AI services from network devices to terminal devices, making “connected things” evolve into “connected intelligence” [4]. At the same time, AI will also play an important role in 6G network optimization. As shown in Fig. 1, the arrival of 6G and the key technologies that come with it will bring unprecedented changes to people’s lives. Fig. 1.

Typical scenarios and technical objectives of 6G visions.