UAE's FNC approves new AI legislative recommendations
Proposals aim to strengthen AI governance and empower innovation
#UAE #AIpolicy - The UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work, H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, presented a series of initiatives and legislative proposals under the UAE's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence to the Federal National Council (FNC) this week. The measures aim to bolster AI governance, foster innovation, and enhance public-private collaboration. The AI policy recommendations, outlined in a report from the Committee on Technology, Energy, Mineral Resources and Public Utilities Affairs, were approved by the FNC, pending final revisions. The recommendations include policy reviews of government data governance, existing digital and data protection laws and the creation of a unified open data platform for public and private sector access.
SO WHAT? - The UAE has moved quickly to leverage AI across every area of government, trade and society under the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. The UAE has also become a global voice in addressing the future of AI, AI governance, AI legislation and AI ethics. The recommendations made to the FNC aim to help provide balance between the country’s continued rapid development in artificial intelligence and the need for effective governance and legislation.
The UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work, H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama addressed the Federal National Council (FNC) on Wednesday, updating the council on significant progress made under the National AI Strategy 2031 and outlining presented a series of initiatives and legislative proposals.
The FNC approved the government AI policy recommendations - made in a report previously submitted by the Committee on Technology, Energy, Mineral Resources and Public Utilities Affairs - during its third session of the 18th legislative chapter, chaired by Speaker Saqr Gobash.
The following recommendations were among those presented to the FNC:
To review and update relevant data governance, digital and data protection legislation to cover the development and use of artificial intelligence.
To develop legislation that regulates the governance of government data to strike a balance between access to public information and maintaining confidentiality and privacy. This impacts classification, storage, exchange, privacy, and optimal utilisation of data available from data providers.
To establish a unified open data platform between government and private institutions, which could empower AI startups by providing financing, marketing assistance, and technical support.
To build further strong partnerships between the public and private sectors for AI R&D.
To develop quality measurement indicators for government services that leverage AI applications to measure the efficiency of services provided to citizens.
The FNC approved the Committee on Technology, Energy, Mineral Resources and Public Utilities Affairs recommendations and referred them back to the Committee to make revisions and return them to the council for final approval and submission to the government for legislation.
Among the other proposed initiatives outlined by Al Olama was the launch of a fund empowering Emiratis working in the AI industry.
Updated 05-Dec-24
LINKS
UAE National Strategy for AI 2031 (UAE AI Office)