Kazakhstan implements new AI law to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms

Kazakhstan has taken a major step in human-centered artificial intelligence with its new law on AI, which came into force on January 18. The legislation sets a legal framework that prioritizes individuals, their rights, freedoms, and well-being while regulating the development and use of AI.

Core principles of law and fairness, transparency, accountability, and data protection. Citizens will be entitled to know what automated processing is used for and what might happen as a result, and how to protect themselves.

AI systems are categorized and ranked by their level of risk and the level of autonomous decision-making capability; this means that AI systems deemed “high risk” will have the highest level of information systems security, similar to those of government-owned organizations.

Law to protect citizens and guide AI development

In addition to defining the individual responsibilities of AI system owners, operators, and users during the lifecycle of an AI solution, this legislation specifically prohibits the use of AI systems that manipulate an individual’s behavior, discriminate against individuals, exploit an individual’s vulnerability, detect emotions without the individual’s consent, violate data protection laws, or generate prohibited content.

Kazakhstan is not the only one, as many other countries are pushing for laws that protect users from deepfakes and other harmful content. For instance, China recently announced new rules that restrict AI chatbots that push users into suicidal emotions, self-harm, and gambling, in a move meant to protect users especially minors.

For Kazakhstan, this legislation requires transparency for AI systems and mandates that all synthetic content be clearly identified as such through labels. This law provides that works created with human creativity are copyrightable, while the training of AI with copyrighted material is permissible as long as it is not expressly prohibited by the copyright owner.

The Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development recommends that AI be developed in compliance with the personal data protection regulations, information security regulations, energy efficiency standards and reduced environmental impact.

The Ministry’s overarching goal is to provide individuals with safe, responsible and human-focused AI technology while continuing to foster the innovation of new technologies.

Kazakhstan launches AI Governance 500 to train executives

According to The Asana Times, the launch of the inaugural group of AI Governance 500, a strategic program aimed at teaching executives how to implement and expand upon AI within governmental organizations, took place on January 19.

The program was introduced by Zhaslan Madiyev, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

Around 100 executives from government and quasi-public sectors are participating, covering strategic AI understanding through to applied project development for regional and departmental implementation.

Currently, the country is in the early stages of conducting a UNESCO-led assessment to determine the country’s overall preparedness in the area of artificial intelligence. Using the UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), the assessment will look at all facets of the country’s AI ecosystem, including the legal, social, economic, scientific, educational, and technological aspects.

In addition, there will be a National Stakeholder Team, consisting of members from various ministries, universities, private companies, civil society, and international partners.

“Practical recommendations will be developed to support a human-centred AI ecosystem,” the Foreign Ministry noted. This project underlines Kazakhstan’s commitment to international cooperation, human rights, and universal values in its AI strategy.

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