India to issue AI law consultation paper in coming weeks, says IT Minister Vaishnaw
Ashwini Vaishnaw says AI risks have reached a point where India needs a law, and the draft paper will seek public and industry views.
The 30-second read
- The government will release a consultation paper on AI law in the coming weeks.
- Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says AI risks have crossed a threshold that calls for new rules.
- Citizens, industry and AI users will be asked for their views.
The government will issue a consultation paper on AI legislation in the coming weeks, Moneycontrol and The Economic Times reported. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, made the announcement at an NDTV event, The Economic Times reported.
In remarks first reported by The Economic Times, Vaishnaw said: "Today the time has come when the risks of AI have crossed a threshold where we should come up with a law and new regulations. Harms from the new technology can be regulated." He also said: "We are drafting the consultation paper, and that paper will gather inputs from society, citizens and industry" (first reported by The Economic Times).
Vaishnaw noted that industry has taken up AI very fast, and the government wants to hear from AI users. The Economic Times also reported his view that the top three or four AI ecosystems need to work together on core principles.
He also spoke about hardware. The Economic Times reported a target of 23 October 2028 for phones that are designed, made and branded in India, and Moneycontrol also reported plans for Indian-designed mobile phone brands. The Economic Times reported that the first made-in-India chip should be ready by 2028, and that 12 plants are approved under Semicon Mission 1.0, with the 6th to be inaugurated very soon.
Why it matters
Indian citizens, businesses and AI users will get a chance to shape a planned AI law. It could bring new rules on AI harms in India.