Introduction to Singapore AI Law System

1. Introduction to Singapore and the development of its AI legal policies on the world map 

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It covers an area of ​​approximately 275 square miles, is smaller than the State of Rhode Island, and is inhabited by more than 5 million people, with the resident population consisting of four major communities: China, Malaysia, India and Eurasia. 

Singapore has the most advanced economy in Southeast Asia and is often mentioned in conjunction with other rapidly industrializing countries in Asia, especially South Korea and Taiwan, as having developed free market economies. It is highly developed, with an open economy and no corruption.

According to Tortoise Media's June 2023 Global AI Index, they commented that Singapore had made "huge advancements through explicit government efforts aimed at boosting AI across innovation, research, and human capital." Following the government's February 16 announcement, it is estimated that Singapore will invest more than SGD 1 billion over the next five years in computing AI, talent and industry development.

Singapore has been actively involved in the development of AI policy in recent years.   

  • In 2019, the Singapore government announced its first National AI Strategy, outlining plans to drive innovation and adoption of AI across the economy, while delivering strong economic and social impact for Singapore. NAIS 2.0 seeks to achieve two goals: (1) Advance the AI ​​field and (2) Maximize value creation, while empowering individuals, businesses and communities to use AI with confidence, insight and trust. 
  • In 2020, PDPC released the Model AI Governance Framework (“Framework”) as a voluntary, industry-agnostic framework developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC). The Framework sets out AI governance principles as well as practical governance methods that bring high efficiency. 
  • In 2023, a series of initiatives was born. Specifically: 
  • In June 2023, AI Verify Governance and Testing Framework : Open source AI governance testing framework and software toolkit. IMDA also established the AI ​​Verify Foundation to use the collective power and contributions of the open source community to develop AI Verify.   
  • On 7 June 2023, GenAI Discussion Paper: Evaluation of risk assessment methods in the application of innovative AI. 
  • On 26 June 2023, Veritas Toolkit: Open source toolkit developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to conduct an assessment of the principles of Fairness, Principles, Accountability and Transparency (FEAT) in the financial industry.
  • On 18 July 2023, Proposed guidelines: applies to organizations that develop or deploy AI systems that use machine learning models to make decisions or to assist a human in making decisions (AI Systems); and (ii) provide guidance and best practices on ensuring that such AI Systems are operated in compliance with the PDPA.

2. Singapore's latest moves on AI legal policy

In 2024, the Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI builds on Singapore's existing AI governance framework, to specifically address GenAI risks. Through consultation and discussion with a variety of stakeholders, including industry experts and policymakers, IMDA and the AI ​​Verify Foundation have jointly identified nine guiding principles as follows:

  • Accountability: Create incentives for all parties in the AI development chain to prioritize end-user welfare. Develop clear guidelines and responsibilities for each stakeholder.
  • Data Integrity: Utilize only trusted and verified data sources. Establish clear policies for the use of sensitive or contentious data. Ensure transparency and fairness in data usage.
  • Trusted Development and Deployment: Adopt industry best practices for AI development and evaluation. Implement transparent disclosure policies akin to “food label” transparency. Encourage regular audits and reviews of development processes.
  • Incident Reporting: Set up robust mechanisms for monitoring and reporting AI-related incidents. Create a centralized database for incident tracking and analysis.
  • Testing and Assurance Encourage: the use of third-party testing and assurance services. Develop and adhere to common standards for AI testing. Support independent verification of AI systems to build trust. 
  • Security: Adapt existing information security frameworks to include AI-specific concerns. Develop and implement new testing tools for AI security. 
  • Content Provenance: Ensure transparency in the origins and creation process of AI-generated content. Provide tools and methods for end-users to verify content provenance. 
  • Safety and Alignment: R&D Invest in research and development focused on AI model safety. Foster global collaboration among AI safety institutes. 
  • AI for Public Good: Promote the use of AI for societal benefits and upliftment. Enhance AI access and adoption in the public sector.

3. Potential impacts of AI Policies in Singapore on Vietnamese businesses

On the positive side, Singapore's AI policies may also bring some opportunities for technology businesses in Vietnam. Businesses can develop AI products and services that comply with Singapore policy requirements, helping businesses access the Singapore market and expand relationships with customers. Businesses can also participate in AI research and development projects supported by Singapore. In addition, when businesses ensure compliance with Singapore's new policies to build an effective, legal and fully operational management framework. 

On the negative side, complying with new regulatory requirements can increase the cost of investing resources in legal, compliance, and technical activities. This can affect business profits and increase product and service prices. Additionally, differences in regulatory approaches across jurisdictions can complicate the deployment of AI solutions globally and can lead to regulatory gaps, where companies choose to operate in areas with a more favorable legal environment. Besides, businesses may experience reduced revenue due to fierce competition from other businesses inside and outside Singapore. Therefore, implementing appropriate measures and compliance checklists can help mitigate these costs. 

4. Why is it necessary to comply with the policy of Singapore? How can Humane-AI Asia help customers?

For businesses, particularly Vietnamese technology firms catering to the Singaporean market, adherence to Singaporean policies is imperative for the following reasons:

  • Singapore is a melting pot of technological innovation, with a strong competitive advantage in Asia to attract global talent and investment. Its success is demonstrated by its high ranking among the top AI hubs in various indices, including the Government AI Readiness Index (2023), Global AI Index (2023) as well as Asia Pacific AI Readiness Index (2023).
  • On the other hand, Singapore has demonstrated its ability to contribute to the global forum on AI governance and regulation through its experience in Model Frameworks and AI Verification. In addition, Singapore remains active in international cooperation. Singapore has shown interest in developing “interoperability on AI governance, AI standards and testing frameworks” with the EU as expressed in the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement (EUSDP). Therefore, compliance with AI policies contributes to strengthening corporate governance capabilities and expanding markets globally.
  • The ASEAN AI Guide will provide guidance for domestic regulations and leave specific information to companies and local regulators. It encourages consideration of national cultural differences in drafting AI regulation.

With the potential from the quality team, Humane AI-Asia can provide to customers:

  • Provide advice to clients on leveraging artificial intelligence to grow their businesses while maintaining ethical standards.
  • Assist in aligning artificial intelligence strategy with the client's organizational vision and values.
  • Advise on legal requirements related to AI, including Singapore's policies on AI
  • Develop safe, secure, transparent and responsible AI systems
  • Identify potential risks associated with AI deployment and recommend strategies to mitigate related risks.
  • Train client employees to increase ethical awareness and compliance with AI governance regulations within the organization

(Reference: A walk into Singapore's Vision for the Future of AI) 

—

Humane AI Asia has a team of experienced experts with a deep understanding of AI Regulation and AI Compliance. The company is committed to helping customers develop and deploy AI responsibly and ethically, while ensuring benefits for businesses, customers and communities. 

For further consultation or to begin your compliance journey, please schedule a call and we will reach out soon.

For more information about Humane AI Asia, please visit: 

Fanpage: Humane-AI Asia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humane-ai-asia/  

Website: https://www.humane-ai.asia/ 

Email: info@humane-ai.asia