AI Governance Bill to require safety measures for child-focused chatbots, apps

KUALA LUMPUR: Developers of chatbots and applications targeting children will be required to incorporate safety-by-design measures, including content filtering, under the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Bill.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat early next year, would adopt a risk-based approach to AI governance.

"The safety of children is prioritised through a risk-based approach.

"For applications or chatbots targeting children, developers are required to implement safety-by-design elements," he said in a written parliamentary reply.

He said the measures would include regular risk impact assessments and harmful content filtering to prevent the psychological manipulation of children.

Protections for children and vulnerable groups, he said, had also been incorporated through engagement with various stakeholders, including the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and international organisations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

Gobind added that the Bill was being developed as a foundational framework that could be adapted to address risks arising from emerging technologies.

He added that bot disclosure requirements would be introduced through targeted mechanisms.

He was responding to Riduan Rubin (Independent-Tenom), who asked how specific protections against the risks of AI chatbot use by children would be incorporated into the Bill and whether bot disclosure would be required.