Passed by Parliament: New law for artificial intelligence

The Japanese Parliament has approved a law containing regulations regarding artificial intelligence.

According to a report by the Japan Times newspaper, the bill, which includes regulations on artificial intelligence, passed the House of Councillors (Sangiin), the upper house of parliament, with the support of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai.

The new law grants the government the authority to investigate, issue warnings to, inform, and take other necessary steps against relevant businesses in the event of a serious incident that violates the rights and interests of citizens.

While the law does not introduce new criminal provisions in order to avoid hindering technological progress, it stipulates the application of existing laws in cases of violation.

In this context, the government aims to encourage the safe use and development of artificial intelligence technology by addressing concerns regarding risks such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

On the other hand, the government will establish an "Artificial Intelligence Strategy Team" consisting of all cabinet members to increase Japan's competitiveness in this field.