On October 11, China unveiled a set of draft security regulations aimed at companies providing generative artificial intelligence (AI) services. These regulations, proposed by the National Information Security Standardization Committee, involve stringent measures related to data sources used for training generative AI models.
Generative AI, exemplified by models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has the ability to perform tasks by analyzing historical data and generating new content, such as text and images. The committee recommends conducting security evaluations on the data used to train publicly accessible generative AI models. Content exceeding 5% in the form of unlawful or detrimental information will be blacklisted. This includes content related to terrorism, violence, subversion of the socialist system, harm to China’s reputation, and actions undermining national cohesion and societal stability.
Moreover, the draft regulations prohibit the use of data subject to censorship on the Chinese internet as training material for generative AI models. This move follows the recent granting of permission to several Chinese tech companies, including Baidu, to release generative AI-driven chatbots to the public.
Since April, China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has consistently required companies to undergo security evaluations before launching generative AI services for public use. In July, the CAC released industry guidelines, which were seen as less burdensome compared to the initial draft proposed in April. The new draft security regulations further stipulate that organizations engaged in training AI models must obtain explicit consent from individuals whose personal data, including biometric information, is used for training. Additionally, they provide detailed instructions on preventing intellectual property infringements.
The global community is grappling with the formulation of regulatory frameworks for AI technology. China, in particular, views AI as a sector in which it aims to compete with the United States and has set ambitious goals to become a global leader in AI by 2030. These new security regulations demonstrate China’s commitment to both fostering AI innovation and safeguarding against potential risks and misuse.
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