New AI laws should target data governance, safety to build public confidence: experts
Hong Kong should enact laws on data governance and underlying safety standards to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), experts have said, as the government pledged to tackle disputes or crimes involving the technology’s application with tailored legislation. They also said that legislation was needed to define liability boundaries, which could bolster business and public…
Hong Kong experts have called for the enactment of data governance and safety laws to ensure responsible AI use, as the government seeks to address disputes and crimes involving the technology. The city's Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, has pledged to study new legislation to tackle cyber-enabled crimes, with a working group reviewing existing laws for liability issues.
Police have identified AI as one of the five major cyber threats in 2026, citing cases of AI-generated materials being used for scams and deepfakes to set up bank accounts. Duncan Chiu, a lawmaker in the Innovation and Technology Sector, emphasized the importance of data security in AI, noting that Hong Kong should look to China's Data Security Law as a reference.
The mainland's law establishes a tiered data protection system, requiring authorities to implement differentiated measures based on data sensitivity. Chiu also highlighted the need for industry involvement in creating detailed governance guidelines. Leonard Chan, founding chairman of the Hong Kong Innovative Technology Development Association, stressed the need for legislation to support AI development and prevent crimes, advocating for a focus on digital literacy, data security standards, and users' auditing requirements.
Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
