Experts cite ethical and new security risks at cyberspace forum in Zhejiang

As AI advances at an unprecedented pace and becomes increasingly integrated into almost every sector of society, countries need to strengthen their legal frameworks to address the ethical and security risks arising from the technology's development, cyberspace experts said.

The adoption of AI is progressing much faster than society's collective ability to understand its consequences and regulate its development. Without a sound legal framework, AI could amplify discrimination, reinforce social inequalities and generate decisions that affect people's rights and opportunities, said Renata Mielli, special adviser to Brazil's minister of state for science, technology and innovation, on Wednesday.

She made the remarks at the Cyberspace Rule of Law Forum, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Zhejiang province.

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Existing data protection, consumer protection and constitutional safeguards in Brazil remain essential, but they are insufficient to address the specific challenges posed by AI, Mielli said.

"We need clear obligations regarding algorithmic impact assessments, nondiscrimination, human oversight and accountability throughout the AI value chain. And regulation should not be understood as an obstacle to innovation. Appropriate rules can create trust, legal certainty and better conditions for responsible technological development," she said.

Mielli added that Brazil faces the challenge of accelerating the implementation of its national AI strategy, strengthening domestic technological capabilities and establishing an effective regulatory framework.

Keovisouk Solaphom, deputy minister of technology and communications of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, said the country also attaches great importance to improving its legal system to address challenges arising from the rapid development of AI.

"We are moving forward step by step, building on an existing legal foundation that includes the laws on cybersecurity and personal data protection, the amended law on digital technology and the decree on digital government. Our first task is to review these instruments to ensure that they address the issues raised by AI, and then to determine where new instruments are needed," Solaphom said.

The forum was themed "Law and AI for Good: World's Landscape and China's Practice".

No country can address these challenges alone. They require extensive consultation, joint contributions and shared benefits. Countries should share legislative experience, safety standards and testing methods to ensure greater compatibility among regulatory frameworks and better prevent and combat the misuse of AI in fraud and scams, Solaphom added.

Liu Taizong, director of the economic crime prosecution department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said new issues arising from AI, including the "algorithm black box", "data poisoning" and "AI hallucinations", have emerged one after another. These issues differ from traditional risks and pose new systemic security threats.

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Criminals are increasingly exploiting AI, using technologies such as deepfakes and generative large language models to engage in various illegal activities, threatening cybersecurity and social stability, Liu said.

"The rapid development of AI technology and the upgrading of industry models require continuous updates and improvements to governance rules. Prosecutorial agencies will work with legislative and administrative bodies to advance the development of legal frameworks in the AI field, such as the AI law," he said.

Whether AI serves humanity as a trustworthy, reliable and controllable tool or becomes a source of risks depends on our ability to leverage the rule of law to establish safeguards, guide technology toward positive uses and regulate its applications, Liu added.

Contact the writers at cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn