By Ryan Daws

December 19, 2024

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Governments Scramble to Establish Regulations for AI

Governments are scrambling to establish regulations to govern AI, citing numerous concerns over data privacy, bias, safety, and more. AI News caught up with Nerijus Šveistys, Senior Legal Counsel at Oxylabs, to understand the state of play when it comes to AI regulation and its potential implications for industries, businesses, and innovation.

The Boom of AI Regulation

‘The boom of the last few years appears to have sparked a push to establish regulatory frameworks for AI governance,’ explains Šveistys. ‘This is a natural development, as the rise of AI seems to pose issues in data privacy and protection, bias and discrimination, safety, intellectual property, and more.’

The EU’s Comprehensive Model

The European Union has taken a comprehensive approach to regulating AI, introducing the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). This framework aims to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed safely, transparently, and accountably.

China’s Step-by-Step Strategy

In contrast, China is taking a more step-by-step approach to regulating AI. The government has introduced various regulations and guidelines to govern the development and deployment of AI systems, with a focus on ensuring that they are safe, secure, and beneficial to society.

State-Level Initiatives in the US

In the United States, regulation of AI is being addressed at the state level. California, for example, has introduced legislation aimed at regulating the use of facial recognition technology, while other states are exploring similar measures.

Impact on Related Industries

One industry that is deeply intertwined with AI developments is web scraping. Typically used for collecting publicly available data, web scraping is undergoing an AI-driven evolution.

Web Scraping and AI Regulation

‘From data collection, validation, analysis, or overcoming anti-scraping measures, there is a lot of potential for AI to massively improve the efficiency, accuracy, and adaptability of web scraping operations,’ said Šveistys.

However, as AI regulation and related laws tighten, web scraping companies will face greater scrutiny. ‘AI regulations may also bring the spotlight on certain areas of law that were always very relevant to the web scraping industry, such as privacy or copyright laws,’ Šveistys added.

Copyright Battles and Legal Precedents

The implications of AI regulation are also playing out on a broader legal stage, particularly in cases involving generative AI tools. High-profile lawsuits have been launched against AI giants like OpenAI and its primary backer, Microsoft, by authors, artists, and musicians who claim their copyrighted materials were used to train AI systems without proper permission.

Establishing Legal Boundaries

‘These cases are pivotal in determining the legal boundaries of using copyrighted material for AI development and establishing legal precedents for protecting intellectual property in the digital age,’ said Šveistys.

While these lawsuits could take years to resolve, their outcomes may fundamentally shape the future of AI development. So, what can businesses do now as the regulatory and legal landscape continues to evolve?

Navigating the Complex Framework

‘Speaking about the specific cases of using copyrighted material for AI training, businesses should approach this the same way as any web-scraping activity – that is, evaluate the specific data they wish to collect with the help of a legal expert in the field,’ recommends Šveistys.

‘It is essential to recognize that the AI legal landscape is very new and rapidly evolving, with not many precedents in place to refer to as of yet. Hence, continuous monitoring and adaptation of your AI usage are crucial.’

The UK’s Consultation on Copyrighted Material

Just this week, the UK Government made headlines with its announcement of a consultation on the use of copyrighted material for training AI models. Under the proposals, tech firms could be permitted to use copyrighted material unless owners have specifically opted out.

Conclusion

Despite the diversity of approaches globally, the AI regulatory push marks a significant moment for technological governance. Whether through the EU’s comprehensive model, China’s step-by-step strategy, or narrower, state-level initiatives like in the US, businesses worldwide must navigate a complex, evolving framework.

The challenge ahead will be striking the right balance between fostering innovation and mitigating risks, ensuring that AI remains a force for good while avoiding potential harms.

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Tags

• ai
• ai act
• artificial intelligence
• China
• ethics
• eu
• europe
• framework
• governance
• government
• law
• legal
• Legislation
• privacy
• regulation
• risks
• Society
• usa

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