Govt says AI chatbots aimed at children will have safety built in

The Malaysian government has announced that AI chatbots and apps targeting children will be required to incorporate safety features under the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill, as stated by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The bill, which is being drafted as a foundational framework to adapt to emerging technology risks, will take a risk-based approach.

Developers of such applications will be mandated to conduct regular risk impact assessments and implement filtering mechanisms to prevent harmful content, thereby avoiding psychological manipulation of children. Additionally, the bill will enforce bot disclosure, which will be implemented through a targeted mechanism rather than a blanket requirement.

The level of disclosure will depend on the application's risk level, sector-specific requirements, and specific laws or sectoral codes of ethics issued by the proposed regulator and the minister. The government expects to table the AI Governance Bill in the Dewan Rakyat early next year, citing the ongoing drafting process and the need to assess the level of control and obligations based on the potential harm posed by AI systems.

Brief written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.