Global AI Regulations Signal Lack of Standardization, Depth

More than two dozen countries during a December international summit in India committed to enacting AI regulations, but making the commitment may be easier than actually making the laws. Most countries - with the prominent exception of European Union members - lack specific AI guidance or policy.

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At the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit, a global alliance of 29 countries endorsed the New Delhi AI Declaration, underscoring a collective commitment to fostering "safe, secure, and trustworthy AI" and supporting a global push for AI regulations. Representatives of the world's leading economies - including the U.S., the U.K., Japan and Australia - made it clear that they see the need for regulations. Among the 29 countries in the alliance, the European Union has already taken the first step toward regulation.

Lack of Cohesive Regulatory Structures

Even though many of these leading economies favor AI regulations, most countries are still grappling with the lack of cohesive and thorough regulatory structures. Nevertheless, legislative measures and policies are emerging amid the rapid advancement of AI technologies.

The Global AI Legislation Tracker, curated by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, offers insight into the diverse array of approaches adopted by different nations, which range from refining existing regulatory frameworks to introducing comprehensive bills exclusively focused on AI governance. Countries are deploying context-based and sector-specific regulations to address the intricacies of AI implementation across various domains, but most governments are working individually and potentially creating a patchwork of rules.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of a global approach to AI governance during his address at the recent GPAI Summit in New Delhi. Leading global organizations such as the OECD, UNESCO and G7 nations are actively collaborating to develop multilateral frameworks and guidelines for ethical AI development and utilization. The GPAI, which consists of representatives from 28 countries and the EU, recently endorsed the New Delhi AI Declaration.

The EU last year adopted the EU AI Act of 2023, marking the world's first set of comprehensive regulations governing AI use. Countries such as Australia and the United States are refining existing regulatory frameworks to accommodate AI or introducing dedicated bills aimed at overseeing AI governance.

The Center for Information Policy Leadership advocates a risk-based and tiered approach to AI regulation that builds on existing laws, standards and the practices of organizations. This approach requires innovative regulatory oversight complemented by co-regulatory instruments to effectively govern AI.

Global AI Legislation Tracker

"While the U.S., the EU, the U.K. and China often steal the spotlight, other jurisdictions are also taking significant steps in AI governance. In fact, more and more jurisdictions are trying to keep pace in the race to achieve an optimum balance between innovation and regulatory oversight," Kostiantyn Ponomarov, privacy counsel at Bolt and former data protection lawyer at Legal Nodes, said in a blog post.

The following shows the development of AI regulation and policy across 14 countries.