Building the Law on Artificial Intelligence: Creating a legal corridor for sustainable development in the digital age

On October 17, in Hanoi, the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment (KH,CN&MT) in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology (KH&CN) and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) organized a workshop on "Giving comments on completing the draft Law on Artificial Intelligence (AI)". Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment (S&TE) Tran Van Khai, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long, and President of VUSTA Phan Xuan Dung co-chaired the workshop.

The Presidium chaired the Workshop.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Tran Van Khai said that, implementing the direction of the National Assembly's leaders, the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment chaired and coordinated with the Ministry of Science and Technology and VUSTA to organize the workshop to consult in-depth opinions of scientists, experts and managers. This is an important step in the process of building the AI ​​Law, contributing to ensuring the quality and practicality of the draft when submitting it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

Mr. Tran Van Khai emphasized that AI is identified as one of the national priority technologies, playing a key role in digital transformation, developing a knowledge-based economy and enhancing national competitiveness. The timely drafting of the AI ​​Law is of particular importance, aiming to create a legal foundation to promote research, development, application and governance of AI in a safe, responsible and humane manner, while finding a balance between "management" and "promotion".

The Vice Chairman of the Committee suggested a number of key policy groups that need to be discussed, including: Scope of regulation and subjects of application; principles of AI development and application; State policies; classification and management of AI systems according to risk levels; controlled testing mechanism (sandbox); responsibilities of parties throughout the life cycle of AI systems; principles of handling violations, assigning compensation responsibilities; ensuring consistency and synchronization in the legal system...

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly 's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Tran Van Khai delivered the opening speech at the Workshop.

VUSTA Chairman Phan Xuan Dung affirmed that the National Assembly and Government’s initiative in developing the AI ​​Law demonstrates Vietnam’s strategic vision in shaping the legal framework for new technology. The law needs to have a flexible mechanism, both paving the way for innovation and ensuring effective management, helping AI become a driving force for strong growth in the coming time.

VUSTA President Phan Xuan Dung spoke at the Workshop.

Regarding the National AI Strategy, Prof. Dr. Ho Tu Bao, Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, commented that the current draft only focuses on generative AI and has not clearly shown the harmonious development between the two branches: analytical AI and generative AI. He analyzed that analytical AI aims to understand and predict from past data, while generative AI focuses on creating new content, ideas and solutions. Therefore, the National Strategy needs to develop both directions simultaneously to ensure long-term competitiveness. Prof. Ho Tu Bao also recommended reviewing and standardizing concepts such as "AI", "AI technology", "AI system" and adding the term "AI Ethics" - a set of principles to ensure fairness, transparency, safety and social responsibility in research, development and use of AI.

Prof. Dr. Ho Tu Bao, Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, gives his opinion on the National Strategy on AI.

Sharing the same view, Dr. Phung Van On, Vietnam Association of Information Technology, emphasized that in the context of many unverified AI-generated contents, it is necessary to include the element of "ethics and responsibility" in the law. He proposed adding the principle of respecting human rights and privacy; at the same time, expressed concerns about the proposal to establish a National Committee on AI and an AI One-Stop Portal, because it could "bloat" the apparatus when there is currently a Committee on Digital Transformation.

Dr. Phung Van On, Vietnam Association of Information Technology, spoke about ethics and responsibility in using AI.

From a management perspective, Mr. Tran Duc Lai, Chairman of the Vietnam Radio and Electronics Association, proposed establishing an independent AI Ethics Council within the Committee with multidisciplinary experts, in which it is necessary to clearly state the participation rate of experts (Singapore's model, the expert rate can be from 30-50%). At the same time, clearly stipulate the inter-sectoral coordination mechanism between Ministries when handling inter-sectoral issues; add to the principle of respecting privacy and need to state some specific principles in sub-law documents.

Mr. Tran Duc Lai, Chairman of the Vietnam Radio and Electronics Association, gave his opinion at the Workshop.

Delegates agreed that the promulgation of the AI ​​Law is an urgent requirement, aiming to create a comprehensive legal framework to regulate research, development, provision, deployment and use of AI systems safely and effectively. Many opinions assessed that the draft Law has been carefully designed, introducing many breakthrough policies, but it is also necessary to continue to perfect a number of new regulations such as the responsibility to compensate for damages, to ensure compliance with international practices and practices, and to be consistent with current laws such as the Law on Cyber ​​Security and the Law on Personal Data Protection.

On behalf of the drafting agency, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long affirmed that the development of the AI ​​Law is an important step for socio-economic development and national governance in the digital age. A clear legal corridor, with specific policy groups, will help maximize the potential of AI, while identifying, controlling and minimizing risks. The Ministry of Science and Technology will fully absorb the opinions of experts, scientists and management agencies to continue perfecting the draft before submitting it to the National Assembly for consideration.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long spoke at the workshop.

Concluding the workshop, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Tran Van Khai acknowledged and highly appreciated the diverse, profound and practical opinions; at the same time, he affirmed that the Standing Committee of the Committee will synthesize and comprehensively analyze comments related to the scope of regulation, development principles, State policies, risk management mechanisms, AI ethics and public-private partnership... to coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to complete the draft AI Law, to submit to the National Assembly in the coming time.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/xay-dung-luat-tri-tue-nhan-tao-tao-hanh-lang-phap-ly-cho-phat-trien-ben-vung-trong-ky-nguyen-so-19725101715310075.htm