China Releases Draft Security Regulations for AI Services
China has unveiled draft security regulations for companies offering generative artificial intelligence (AI) services, which include restrictions on data sources used for AI model training. The National Information Security Standardization Committee, consisting of representatives from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and law enforcement agencies, released the proposed regulations on October 11th.
Restrictions on Data Sources
The regulations propose a security evaluation on the content used to train publicly accessible generative AI models. Content exceeding 5% in the form of unlawful and detrimental information will be blacklisted. This includes content promoting terrorism, violence, subversion of the socialist system, harm to the country’s reputation, and actions that undermine national cohesion and societal stability.
Censorship and Consent
The draft regulations also highlight that data subject to censorship on the Chinese internet should not be used as training material for these models. Additionally, organizations training AI models must obtain explicit consent from individuals whose personal data, including biometric information, is used for training.
China’s Ambitions in AI
China sees AI as a domain where it aims to compete with the United States and become a global leader by 2030. These draft regulations are part of China’s efforts to establish a regulatory framework for AI technology. In April, the CAC began requiring companies to provide security evaluations before introducing generative AI-powered services to the public. The recent guidelines build upon previous measures and emphasize the importance of data security and intellectual property protection.
Hot Take: China Strengthens Regulations to Promote Responsible AI Use
China’s release of draft security regulations for AI services demonstrates its commitment to ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI technology. By imposing restrictions on data sources and emphasizing content evaluation, China aims to prevent the dissemination of unlawful and harmful information through generative AI models. These regulations also address privacy concerns by requiring explicit consent for using personal data in AI model training. As China strives to become a global leader in AI, these regulations contribute to building a robust regulatory framework that promotes the development and deployment of safe and secure AI services.