Thailand gears up for stricter AI regulations, eyeing legal framework

The need for stricter artificial intelligence (AI) regulations has been highlighted, as countries, including Thailand, prepare to develop comprehensive AI legal frameworks. This follows the approval of the world’s first comprehensive AI law, the AI Act, by the European Parliament.

Putchapong Nodthaisong, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, revealed that the commission already has AI ethics guidelines in place. He further stated that the commission’s digital economy promotion subcommittee will discuss the drafting of AI regulations by the end of May.

This move aims to enforce penalties for violations of AI ethics, in a step towards stricter supervision of AI developers and service providers.

Chaichana Mitrpant, Executive Director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), stated that a joint study with Thammasat University regarding AI regulations in Europe and Brazil has revealed that these regions have effectively managed to prohibit high-risk AI.

They have also encouraged AI development within a sandbox and given incentives to speed up AI development.

The ETDA has been proactive in setting up an AI governance clinic which is tasked with assessing risk levels, making recommendations and overseeing the use of AI-related projects.

AI guidelines

They are currently drafting generative AI governance guidelines for AI developers. This initiative is aimed at averting AI hallucinations and avoiding intellectual property infringements.

The draft law currently being developed by the ETDA includes key components such as an AI innovation testing centre, which will be a crucial mechanism for AI research and development.

It also mandates information sharing, requiring the ETDA to promote, support and provide assistance to government agencies and the private sector in promoting information sharing to develop AI innovation.

The law also necessitates the creation of AI standards, setting and certifying standards and creating an AI standard logo. This will equip consumers with the necessary information to make informed decisions when choosing products or services.

Apivadee Piyatumrong, a researcher at the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, emphasised the role of AI standards in garnering consumer acceptance.

Pattaraphan Paiboon, an IP tech partner of Baker & McKenzie Ltd, also echoed the sentiment that many countries will likely follow the EU’s AI Act.

AI implementation

Pattaraphan added that while current laws may not be sufficient to support or regulate AI due to the technology’s uniqueness, it might be premature to impose comprehensive AI regulations considering Thailand’s early stage of AI implementation for businesses and services.

However, she also mentioned that the government has a national AI development roadmap that requires an AI law to be enacted by 2027.

Dhiraphol Suwanprateep, an IP tech of counsel at Baker & McKenzie, suggested that the government’s focus should mainly be on supporting and promoting the use and development of AI and AI businesses. He highlighted China’s regulations on the promotion of the AI industry in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone as an example.

He further noted that if any AI regulation is necessary, Thailand may first focus on regulating generative AI, akin to China’s interim measures for the management of generative AI services, rather than issuing comprehensive AI legislation.

Christina Montgomery, Vice President and chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, also drew attention to the EU’s AI Act, describing it as essentially a product safety law. She urged companies to understand and prepare for these incoming regulations, as reported by Bangkok Post.

In similar news, The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) is pushing for the modernisation of the Consumer Protection Act 1979, to accommodate the emerging trends in technology, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).