Artificial Intelligence Act 2024 tabled in Senate.

A ruling PML-N member has tabled a bill titled the ‘Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2024’ in the Senate. The bill seeks to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country to mitigate the “various risks” associated with the technology and suggests imposing fines amounting to billions of rupees for violators.
Senator Afnan Ullah Khan moved the legislation as a private member, and the draft has been referred to the Senate’s standing committee on information technology for further deliberation.
Digital rights activists have reportedly raised concerns about the proposed legislation. Nighat Dad, the founder of the Lahore-based Digital Rights Foundation, described the bill as “odd” and “abstract.” She was quoted by an English daily as saying, “This bill talks about privacy [of personal data], but there is no data protection or privacy law in the country at the moment. This bill, to me, is just another piece of legislation that has been proposed without doing any groundwork.”
In his statement of objectives, Senator Khan emphasized the “dire need to monitor, regulate, superintend, and supervise” the dissemination of data and information at both national and international levels. He highlighted the risks associated with AI use, calling for increased human involvement to prevent “an unseen catastrophe” and to establish a “secure and well-protected” AI system to drive growth and productivity in the country.
The bill further proposes the establishment of a “National Artificial Intelligence Commission” with its headquarters in Islamabad. According to the bill, the commission would have several key mandates including 1) ensuring equitable access to AI opportunities for all citizens, regardless of religion, gender, ethnicity, geographic location, financial status, or physical ability, 2) maintaining human oversight over AI matters, particularly in areas such as national security, health, and education, 3) guaranteeing that AI systems are safe, secure from “malicious use,” and free from errors, 3) developing a robust AI research and development infrastructure, 4) utilizing AI to enhance public service delivery in sectors such as healthcare, finance, trade, and science.
The bill also proposes protecting the privacy and safety of AI users and advocates for transparency in AI data collection, storage, and usage. Additionally, it calls for strengthening the country’s telecommunications systems, digital governance, and cybersecurity. The commission members, who will be appointed by the government, will be prohibited from holding any public or political office simultaneously. Violations of the bill could result in fines ranging from Rs1.5 billion to Rs2.5 billion, with the possibility of increased penalties for cases involving the “dissemination of sensitive or classified data.” However, the bill does not specify which particular violations would trigger these fines.