July 24, 2023
Petaling Jaya – The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is considering the possibility of regulating artificial intelligence (AI) applications in Malaysia. This includes labeling such as “AI-generated” or “AI-assisted” produced by such apps.
Minister Chang Lih Kang said he was considering taking the lead in drafting the bill and was considering holding consultations with technical and legal experts, stakeholders and the public to ensure the law’s robustness and adequacy.
“This is a strategic move given the global trend toward stricter regulations on the use of AI,” he told The Sunday Star.
With the prevalence of AI, Chan said it is imperative that materials produced by generative AI be labeled as “AI-generated” or “AI-assisted” to ensure transparency and enable informed consumption.
“We should actively consider and advocate for policy measures that require clear identification of content created wholly or in part by AI.
“Furthermore, by adopting global standards for AI transparency and promoting relevant certifications, we can strengthen these transparency efforts.
“These standards could include guidelines on how to label AI-generated content and how to provide easy-to-understand explanations of how AI systems work,” he said.
In March, the World Economic Forum reported that the European Union was working on a legal framework to regulate the use of AI, focusing primarily on activating rules on data transparency, quality, accountability and human oversight.
The law, dubbed the “AI Act,” also aims to solve “ethical issues and implementation challenges” in various industries such as education, finance and healthcare.
On Friday, AI companies such as OpenAI, Alphabet and Meta voluntarily pledged to the US government to introduce measures such as watermarking AI-generated content.
Mr Chang noted that such a bill in Malaysia would cover important aspects such as data privacy and public awareness of the use of AI.
“It is important that this AI law encompasses areas such as transparency, data privacy, accountability and cybersecurity, among others.
“The law could also include provisions on educating the public about AI and promoting research and development in this area,” he said.
He said the law will not curb the development of AI technology, adding that it is important to balance the need for risk management with the potential for innovation, and to ensure that AI continues to contribute positively to the economy and society.
“It is also important for the ministry to continue to promote research and development in AI and machine learning technologies, advance ethical guidelines, and support innovations that help detect and combat misinformation and other forms of harmful content,” he said.
Regarding the potential abuse of AI in elections through defamatory content and misinformation, Chan said this is why clear regulation is needed.
“It is important to have a strong legal framework and ethical guidelines for the use of AI.
“This could include laws mandating transparency of sources and harsh penalties for those who use AI tools to spread false information.
“We also need to work with relevant ministries, social media companies and other platforms where misinformation is frequently spread and encourage them to step up their efforts to identify and remove such content,” he said.
Chan also said people need to be educated on how to recognize AI-generated content so that they can make informed opinions and choices.
He emphasized the need to develop resources and public awareness campaigns on the basics of AI and how it is being used in content generation.
“This includes understanding the biases that may be inherent in AI and the distinction between human-generated content and AI-generated content.
“Raising awareness about AI has many benefits: it empowers people to make better choices and decisions, encourages them to be more critical of the media they consume, and allows them to participate in discussions about AI rules and guidelines.
“Eventually, the community may become more cautious and conscious, reducing the impact of AI-generated misinformation,” he said.
