Derek John Fernandez, a Commission Member of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) emphasised the urgency of formulating a law to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) use to prevent its misuse for criminal purposes.
The lawyer highlighted the threat to public and national well-being, particularly from AI-generated deepfakes used to spread lies, which could disrupt peace and security, according to Bernama.
Fernandez proposed mandatory notifications for AI-generated images and videos to help prevent online fraud. He stressed the responsibility of AI service providers to ensure responsible use and compliance with local laws.
Additionally, he urged Malaysia to expedite AI legislation, noting that Singapore already has such laws while Thailand and Indonesia are in the final phase of drafting similar ones, and called for ASEAN-wide collaboration for effective cybersecurity.
Fernandez also emphasised the need to focus on three components of AI: learning, intelligence, and awareness, and stressed the importance of enacting appropriate laws to prepare the country for the technology boom.
He explained that the learning component involves AI assisting humans in making decisions based on provided input. The intelligence component refers to AI’s ability to think on par with or better than humans. The awareness component is when AI becomes aware of itself and its surroundings.
“The intelligence and awareness components may not be there for now but it is better for us to be prepared to face it with a comprehensive law,” he said.
