Vietnam's AI law takes effect, first in South-east Asia

A law regulating artificial intelligence went into effect in Vietnam on March 1. It is the first country in South-east Asia with a comprehensive framework on the technology. Passed by the National Assembly in December, the law focuses on the risks posed by generative AI. It requires human oversight and control along the lines of the European Union's landmark AI Act. The legislation requires companies to clearly label AI-generated content such as deepfakes that cannot readily be differentiated from reality. It also requires them to disclose to customers when they are interacting with an artificial rather than human agent. The law applies to developers as well as providers and deployers of the technology. This includes Vietnamese organisations and foreign entities operating in the country. The government said the law paves the way for Vietnam to deeply integrate with international standards while maintaining digital sovereignty. It will establish a national AI computing centre, improved data resources and large language models in Vietnamese. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh described AI and the data economy as pillars of a more sustainable and smarter new development model. Analysts said the impact would depend on enforcement and implementation guidance. The LNT & Partners law firm said the law is not the final word but a decisive starting point that establishes responsibility, human control and risk management as the governing themes. Senior legal adviser Patrick Keil at DFDL called it a significant statement of national ambition. Businesses will continue to face some uncertainty about their obligations until further guidance is issued, he said.