DICT to embed AI principles in existing digital laws

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology will not push for a stand-alone law for artificial intelligence, saying the technology is still emerging and changing rapidly.

DICT Deputy Secretary for Policy and Emerging Technologies Mr Flierl Shongol told the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communications that AI should instead be covered under existing digital frameworks.

“AI is a technology that’s emerging and it’s transforming everything. So we cannot legislate for it,” Mr Shongol said.

He said DICT could provide the basic principles and embed them across government agencies, with AI eventually coming under one of the broader digital frameworks.

Mr Shongol said data governance and data protection, or cybersecurity legislation, could provide a basis for incorporating AI.

“And then that will provide for guidelines, standards, and regulations to be developed as and when the technology works and the need for us to have those guidelines in place,” he said.

He said DICT’s recommendation was to embed AI within one of the existing digital frameworks rather than create a separate law for the technology.

The approach would allow the guidelines, standards and regulations to change as AI develops and new needs emerge.

The discussion was part of the committee’s review of recommendations aimed at strengthening PNG’s communications and digital sector.

Mr Shongol also told the committee that DICT’s role was to provide the technology-related guidelines, while individual agencies would develop policies for their own areas.