Government to strengthen AI regulation amid calls for development

The government introduced a new high-level civil service post of Commissioner for AI in the latest Policy Address who will oversee the city's AI development while preventing crimes involving the technology.

This as the Department of Justice will also assess the need for legislation aimed at ensuring child safety when using social media.

As Australia had earlier implemented a blanket ban of social media usage among residents aged below 16, Hong Kong is increasing its participation in worldwide efforts to regulate social media use among young people.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the government is highly concerned with the risks involved in young people's interactions with AI platforms and social media, such as communication with strangers and cyber bullying.

Under the latest Policy Address, the Department of Justice proposed the establishment of a task force dedicated to review the risks of minors' use of social media, with Lam adding that his department will take reference from relevant examples in other regions.

Responding to concerns of the Policy Address' calls for rapid AI development and cybercrimes that could be associated with the technology, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam reassured the community that guardrails exist and continue to be reformed to address the ever-evolving digital tool.

The cybercrime sub-committee of the Law Reform Commission is at the moment considering existing laws concerning cyber-enabled crimes in general, which would include the use of deepfake technology.

In fact there are existing laws which are in a sense technologically neutral, in that they are capable of handling the use of technology as an instrument to perpetuate criminal activities.

The whole idea is that somebody uses some sort of instrument or tool to facilitate deceptive conduct. So, in this context, it doesn't matter what the tool is -- no matter how primitive or how advanced.

This as the Digital Policy Office noted that it will set up an AI commissioner role, which will assist different departments in responding to risks arising from AI development.

The office said it plans to begin recruitment for the role starting in the second quarter of next year, which will be open to civil servants and individuals in relevant sectors.