#22 Asia AI Policy Monitor
AI copyright in China, Korea investigates AI chatbot, China genAI labeling rules, ASEAN Responsible AI 2025-2030, India AI Roadmap, and more!
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Intellectual Property
A court in China’s Jiangsu province continues the country’s previous jurisprudence on supporting copyright in genAI created content.
In a ruling made public on Friday, the Changshu People’s Court said that a picture generated with the AI tool Midjourney qualified as a copyright-protected work for its originality, as the human user “demonstrated unique selection and arrangement through modifying the prompt texts and refining image details using editing software”.
In early 2023, the plaintiff, surnamed Lin, used Midjourney to create an image depicting a heart-shaped balloon and posted it on social media. Lin later sued two companies for using the design without permission in social media posts.
In its ruling, the court ordered the defendants to issue a public apology and pay Lin 10,000 yuan (US$1,380) in damages, according to an article published by the court on Friday.
Australia’s book authors voice disapproval of Meta’s use of their works for AI training.
“We need AI-specific legislation introduced in Australia that requires generative AI developers or deployers to put in a range of measures to comply with existing copyright legislation.”…
“This is peak technocapitalism.”
She said there should be a class action in Australia, and urged authors to contact their local federal MPs.
Privacy
South Korea’s PIPC conducted an AI roundtable in March.
In order to fit the era of artificial intelligence (AI) where data processing is complex and the pace of change is fast, we set a policy direction centered on 'principles' rather than detailed 'regulations' and present specific processing standards for ① unstructured data ('24.2.), ② disclosed personal information ('24.7.), and ③ image information captured by mobile imaging devices ('24.12.), which are core materials for artificial intelligence (AI) development.
South Korea’s PIPC also conducted investigations into Kakao’s AI chatbot, Kanana, regarding privacy protections.
The Personal Information Protection Commission plans to further activate the prior adequacy review system and communicate closely with the rapidly changing field in the data economy era, thereby resolving legal uncertainty regarding new technologies and services including artificial intelligence (AI) and protecting the rights of data subjects.
Finance
Japan’s Financial Services Agency published an AI Discussion Paper for public comment.
In this discussion paper, we have summarized the current situation and issues regarding the use of AI in financial institutions and comprehensively examined a wide range of issues. However, we believe that the analysis in this discussion paper is only in its initial stages, and the issues presented here may change significantly with technological innovation and changes in the business environment.
Governance
China’s CAC issues rules of facial recognition technology.
When processing facial information based on individual consent, the individual's voluntary and explicit consent must be obtained on the premise of full knowledge. If laws and administrative regulations provide that the processing of facial information must obtain the individual's written consent, such provisions shall prevail.
Where facial information is processed based on personal consent, the individual has the right to withdraw consent, and the personal information processor shall provide a convenient way to withdraw consent. The withdrawal of personal consent shall not affect the validity of personal information processing activities that have been carried out based on personal consent before the withdrawal.
China’s TC260 published rules for coding genAI.
This "Practical Guide" provides the coding structure and coding rules for AI-generated synthetic content service providers and network information content dissemination service providers, which can provide a reference for AI-generated synthetic content service providers and network information content dissemination service providers to carry out implicit identification activities of file metadata for AI-generated synthetic content.
China’s TC260 also published rules for genAI labeling to be implemented in September.
China’s CAC publishes a notice on genAI transparency and labeling rules.
On March 14, 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), along with multiple regulatory agencies, issued new Measures for Identifying Synthetic Content Generated by AI. These rules, effective September 1, 2025, impose strict content labeling and compliance obligations on AI service providers and platforms.
Key Provisions:
1. Mandatory Identification of AI-Generated Content
• AI-generated text, images, audio, and video must have explicit labels (e.g., text prompts, watermarks) and implicit metadata markers.
• Service providers must verify AI-generated content before it is distributed online.
2. Stronger Platform & Provider Responsibilities
• Platforms must identify, verify, and label AI-generated content.
• Tampering with AI markers is strictly prohibited.
• Users must declare AI-generated content before publishing it.
3. Regulatory Oversight & Compliance Measures
• AI providers must comply with algorithm registration, security assessments, and metadata embedding requirements.
• Violators will face penalties enforced by CAC, telecom, security, and broadcasting authorities.
ASEAN published a Responsible AI Roadmap 2025-2030.
The Roadmap provides customized and step-by-step guidance for ASEAN governments to prioritize and operationalize responsible AI in an integrated and interoperable manner. It does this by providing tailored information on two main fronts: (1) foundational policy and regulatory factors that foster conducive and enabling environments for responsible AI to emerge in ASEAN; and (2) targeted actions, initiatives, and outcomes for a constructive and sustainable AI operationalization that takes AMS’s specific needs, priorities, and capabilities into account.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) announced the country’s AI Roadmap.
Here are the key developments:
Scaling AI Compute Infrastructure: The initial phase of the mission has already made 10,000 GPUs available, with the remaining units to be added soon. This will enable the creation of indigenous AI solutions tailored to Indian languages and contexts.
Opening Access to High-Performance Computing: India has also pioneered the launch of an open GPU marketplace, making high-performance computing accessible to startups, researchers, and students. Unlike many countries where AI infrastructure is controlled by large corporations, this initiative ensures that small players have an opportunity to innovate.
Robust GPU Supply Chain: The government has selected 10 companies to supply the GPUs, ensuring a robust and diversified supply chain.
Indigenous GPU Capabilities: To further strengthen domestic capabilities, India aims to develop its own GPU within the next three to five years, reducing reliance on imported technology.
Affordable Compute Access: A new common compute facility will soon be launched, allowing researchers and startups to access GPU power at a highly subsidised rate of ₹100 per hour, compared to the global cost of $2.5 to $3 per hour.
Strengthening Semiconductor Manufacturing: In parallel, India is advancing semiconductor manufacturing, with five semiconductor plants under construction. These developments will not only support AI innovation but also reinforce India’s position in the global electronics sector.
Cybersecurity, Rule of Law, Democracy
Canada’s intelligence services noted that China and India may interfere in the up-coming elections and utilize AI.
China and India are likely to try to interfere in the Canadian general election on April 28, while Russia and Pakistan have the potential to do so, the country's spy service said on Monday….
Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference that hostile state actors were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections.
"The PRC (People's Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada's democratic process in this current election," she said.
Meta announced measures to identify and label deepfakes and reduce the influence of mis/disinformation on Australia’s up-coming elections.
We have also taken steps to further mitigate risks associated with AI-generated content, such as deepfakes and AI-powered disinformation campaigns.
In the News & Analysis
Malaysia tightens NVIDIA chip sanctions under US pressure.
Malaysia’s government says that it will tighten its regulations on semiconductors after coming under pressure from the U.S. to prevent the country from being used to facilitate the illicit flow to China of restricted Nvidia chips used to develop artificial intelligence (AI).
In a report published yesterday, the Financial Times quoted Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz as saying that the Trump administration had demanded that Malaysia closely track the movement of high-end Nvidia GPUs into and out of its country. In a bid to hamstring China’s AI progress, the Biden administration tightly restricted the export of the most sophisticated AI chips, and the tools used to produce them, to China.
Bloomberg reports a need for Japanese cultural shift on AI.
Despite helping to lay the foundation for the global AI race that’s unfolding now, by most measures Japan currently lags in the development and adoption of the technology that is forecast to become a trillion-dollar market.
It seems like every day there’s a buzzy new AI announcement from the US or China. The DeepSeek shock put a new spotlight on Chinese innovation. But even with its historically high-tech reputation, Japanese firms have struggled to keep pace.
Advocacy
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is conducting a public comment on autonomous driving regulations in urban areas until April 14.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency published an AI Discussion Paper for public comment.
Australia is conducting a survey through UTS Human and Technology Institute on aid to Southeast Asia and Pacific on safe, reliable and trustworthy AI until April 1.
Pakistan has an open consultation on its draft National AI Policy ongoing.
New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner issued public consultation on its draft Biometric Processing Privacy Code of Practice. The Code includes 12 prospective rules until 14 March.
The Asia AI Policy Monitor is the monthly newsletter for Digital Governance Asia, a non-profit organization with staff in Taipei and Seattle. If you are interested in contributing news, analysis, or participating in advocacy to promote Asia’s rights-promoting innovation in AI, please reach out to our secretariat staff at APAC GATES or Seth Hays at seth@apacgates.com.