Setting rules for AI development to ensure data, personal security

China's top internet regulator released a draft regulation on Tuesday on the management of generative artificial intelligence services, defining standards and requirements for social ethics to be followed in the development and application of AI, legal obligations for the protection of intellectual property rights and personal privacy, as well as the relevant laws and regulations that should be observed by service providers.

Generative AI is a technology that uses existing text, audio files or images to create new content, with its application scenarios covering graphic creation, code generation, games, advertising, art graphic design, etc. Like any technological revolution, AI is also a "double-edged" sword, which, while empowering humans, could compromise personal privacy and data security, besides generating false content. This underscores the need to build sound management systems and legal norms so that AI and its developers know the dos and don'ts.

According to the draft, content generated by generative AI should be true and accurate, and measures should be taken to prevent the generation of false information. Content that causes harm to others' physical and mental health, reputation and personal privacy, and infringes upon intellectual property rights should be prevented. The practice of illegally obtaining, disclosing, or using personal information, privacy, and business secrets should also be forbidden.

It should be made clear that setting rules for the application of AI is not to limit its development, but to promote the healthy development and standardized application of its technology. The latest draft was drawn up based on the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law, as well as administrative rules.

Since 2022, ChatGPT and its upgraded version have appeared abroad, and similar products have also been launched by domestic enterprises. One cannot deny that AI will not only profoundly affect the development of various industries, but also have a bearing on the life of individuals in the future. Concerns about the abuse of AI technology and where the "human-machine boundary" have led to a general consensus that AI should be human-led, and promote individual happiness and human progress.

China has issued a series of regulations on the management of internet information service algorithm recommendations and on internet information service in-depth synthesis, to promote the sector's sustainable development. It is also a general trend for generative AI services to be regulated for their better development.