The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed a new law setting out principles for how artificial intelligence (AI) is managed in Taiwan and designating the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) as the governing authority for AI.
Under the Artificial Intelligence Basic Law (Artificial Intelligence Basic Law), the government is required to promote research and application of AI, prioritizing social welfare, digital equity, innovation, and national competitiveness.
The law stipulates that AI development must adhere to seven core principles: sustainability and well-being, human autonomy, privacy and data governance, cybersecurity and safety, transparency and explainability, fairness and non-discrimination, and accountability.
Photo: Liao Chenhui, Taipei Times
To reduce risks, the law stipulates that AI applications must not cause harm to people’s life, liberty or property, undermine public order, national security or the environment, or involve prejudice, discrimination, false advertising, misinformation or fabrication.
Although the law does not provide detailed provisions on how the principles will be enforced or enforced, it does designate the NSTC as the authority for AI in Taiwan.
The mandate clause was adopted with the support of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party legislators, over the objections of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators.
The Democratic Party opposed this provision because the Basic Law traditionally does not specify powers.
The law also requires the Executive Yuan to establish a National AI Strategy Committee (chaired by the Prime Minister and comprised of academics, industry representatives, heads of government agencies, and local government leaders) to develop national AI development guidelines.
The committee meets at least once a year, and administrative support is provided by the NSTC.
In addition to these principles, the new law requires governments to allocate funds to AI research, applications, and infrastructure within their financial capacity, and to provide support and subsidies for AI development, training, testing, and validation.
The law also calls for data openness and personal data protection measures, risk-based AI management in accordance with international standards, and protections for workers’ rights, including worker retraining and employment support for people displaced by AI.
