(Yicai) Oct. 23 -- China's top legislative body plans to add new provisions on artificial intelligence to the Cybersecurity Law, which is the country’s foundational legislation on online security, to address the risks and challenges emerging from the rapid development of AI.

The proposed amendments include support for basic AI research and key technology development, improving AI infrastructure, strengthening ethical standards, devising and tightening AI safety regulations and fostering the healthy development of the industry, Wang Xiang, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said at a press conference today.

To keep up with the rapid progress of information technology and evolving online threats, China initiated the first-ever revision of the Cybersecurity Law earlier this year and has now prepared a draft version. The revisions will be reviewed during the 18th meeting of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, which will take place in Beijing from Oct. 24 to 28, Wang said.

Since the law came into effect in 2016, China has made great strides in cybersecurity and informatization, helping to integrate the digital and real economies. However, emerging technologies, such as AI, have brought new challenges with cybercrimes taking on new forms, Wang said.

Apart from the new AI provisions, the draft also aims to better align personal data protection with the Civil Code and the Personal Information Protection Law and to refine penalties for certain violations, Wang added.

In recent years, China has strengthened legislation around the digital economy and in 2021 it introduced the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law. The Civil Code, which came into effect the same year, sets clear legal responsibilities for personal data protection.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Kim Taylor