Global AI Regulation: A Diverging Landscape

Artificial intelligence (AI) regulation varies widely across the globe, with countries adopting different approaches.

While the U.S. embraces a largely unregulated stance, the European Union has implemented stringent laws.

Meanwhile, China, India, and the UK are carving out their own unique regulatory paths. Ahead of the Paris AI summit on February 10–11, here’s an overview of AI governance across key regions.

United States: A Return to Minimal Oversight

President Donald Trump recently rescinded Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order on AI oversight.

The order had required major AI firms like OpenAI to share safety assessments and key data with the federal government.

Though backed by major tech companies, it was largely voluntary and focused on privacy protection, civil rights, and national security.

With no formal AI regulations currently in place, the U.S. remains a “Wild West” for AI development. “The administration has effectively said, ‘we’re not doing this law anymore… we’re setting all our algorithms running and going for it,’” said digital lawyer Yael Cohen-Hadria of EY. Despite the lack of AI-specific laws, existing privacy protections still apply.

China: Tight Controls with Government Exceptions

China’s government is still formulating a comprehensive AI law. However, its “Interim Measures” mandate AI systems to respect personal and business interests, obtain user consent for data usage, label AI-generated content, and safeguard users’ physical and mental well-being. Additionally, AI tools must align with “core socialist values,” prohibiting content that could undermine the Communist Party or national security.

The strict regulation extends to foreign AI firms, while the government retains broad exemptions for itself.

For example, DeepSeek’s R1 model avoids politically sensitive topics, such as President Xi Jinping or the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

European Union: A Leader in AI Regulation

The EU has taken the most structured approach, centering AI regulations on ethics and citizen rights. “Everyone has their share of responsibility—the provider, the deployer, and even the final user,” Cohen-Hadria noted.

The “AI Act,” passed in March 2024, is the world’s most comprehensive AI regulation. It prohibits predictive policing, biometric profiling, and AI systems that infer race, religion, or sexual orientation.

The law follows a risk-based model, requiring stricter compliance for high-risk AI applications.

EU leaders believe clear regulations will provide stability and boost business innovation while ensuring strong intellectual property protections.

India: Awaiting Concrete AI Legislation

India, co-hosting next week’s AI summit, currently lacks specific AI laws but regulates issues through existing defamation, privacy, copyright, and cybercrime laws.

The government has acknowledged AI’s economic importance, but no formal policy has emerged.

Earlier this year, controversy arose when the IT Ministry suggested that AI firms must seek government approval before deploying “unreliable” or “under-testing” models.

The move followed Google Gemini’s controversial responses about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After backlash from AI firms, the rules were softened to require only disclaimers on AI-generated content.

United Kingdom: A Pragmatic, Growth-Oriented Approach

The UK, home to the third-largest AI sector after the U.S. and China, is focusing on economic growth through AI.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “AI Opportunities Action Plan” emphasizes testing before regulation.

“Well-designed and implemented regulation can fuel fast, wide, and safe AI development and adoption,” the plan states.

However, it warns against excessive regulation that could hinder progress. The UK is also reviewing copyright laws to balance innovation with protections for the creative industry.

Conclusion

As AI continues to evolve, global regulation remains fragmented. The U.S. prioritizes innovation with minimal oversight, China enforces strict controls, and the EU leads in comprehensive AI governance.

India and the UK are still shaping their regulatory strategies.

The upcoming Paris AI summit may provide further clarity on how these diverse approaches will impact the future of AI development worldwide.