NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said it is “open to the idea” of bringing in a new law to regulate artificial intelligence but a “lot of consensus” is required for it. IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Parliament that ethical issues remain a concern when it comes to AI and these need to be debated.
“Ethical issues in AI are a global concern, and India is committed to addressing these challenges through robust debate and responsible innovation. The tools developed under these projects will ensure that India stays at the forefront of ethical AI development,” he said.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw also said that the Modi government believes in “democratising technology” which was not the case during the Congress rule, remarks that triggered protests by opposition benches.
Responding to a supplementary on whether the government plans to bring a law on regulating AI and also fix accountability of social media, Vaishnaw said that “fake narratives is a major challenge” faced by societies across the world today. Establishing societal and legal accountability requires a significant consensus. “These are the issues where freedom of speech comes on one hand and accountability and having a proper real news network getting created, on the other hand. These are things which need to be debated and if the house agrees and if there is a consensus in the entire society, we can come up with the new law.”
The minister also addressed concerns about privacy and AI governance, sharing details of proactive measures taken by the government to develop indigenous tools and technologies. He said that under the AI Mission, one of the key pillars is Application Development, focusing on innovations that align with India’s unique requirements. “To address the emerging landscape of AI, we have initiated eight projects aimed at creating tools and technologies within the country.”
The minister said the government is helping set up AI data labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. He also informed the House that 8.6 lakh candidates have enrolled in the future skill platform.
The minister also highlighted India’s leadership in AI. “India is one of the leading countries in shaping global thought on AI governance. Last year, India became the chair of Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and held the Summit this year, and India’s voice continues to hold significant weight in discussions with international bodies, including the OECD and United Nations,” he said.
The minister also spoke about the issue of accountability of social media. “It is a major challenge that societies across the world are facing — the accountability of social media, particularly in the context of fake news and the creation of fake narratives,” Vaishnaw said.
