Artificial Intelligence and Digital Trust
Drew & Napier’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Trust practice brings together its expertise across several technology-related domains and in fields as diverse as data protection, cybersecurity, healthcare, Fintech, intellectual property and competition law (to name a few) to advise clients on the full range of legal issues relating to AI and Digital Trust. In addition to advising on commercial, regulatory and international / cross-border issues, our advice extends into areas such as governance and ethics as we seek to enable our clients to navigate areas where laws and legal principles are still emerging.
AI and Digital Trust in Singapore
Singapore is one of a few countries that stand today at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Trust, two fields that seek to enable societies, governments and businesses to make better use of data in a trusted manner. Both these fields enjoy strong government support, with several new efforts to further innovation and deployment and a measured and pragmatic regulatory approach.
A significant development in AI governance was Singapore’s Model Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework, which came in first in the “Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society” category at the annual World Summit on the Information Society held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2019. Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) subsequently launched AI Verify, the world’s first AI Governance Testing Framework and Toolkit, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland in May 2022.
The Singapore Government has also launched the National Digital Trust Centre in June 2022, with funding from IMDA and the National Research Foundation, to spearhead Singapore’s research and development efforts in key areas of trust technologies including, for example, Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs). The private sector has also been very active in this field, with a leading trade association hosting the world’s first Digital Trust Forum in Singapore in October 2022.
Our Capabilities
Our team includes well-established technology and regulatory lawyers with extensive experience in their respective fields and diverse professional backgrounds (covering private practice, industry and the public sector). When required, we also tap on the technical expertise of our in-house senior cybersecurity and privacy engineer (who also works closely with our Data Protection, Privacy & Cybersecurity practice).
We have advised clients in relation to specific AI projects on compliance with Singapore laws and regulatory framework relating to AI, data governance and processing of data. This includes Singapore’s Model AI Governance framework and data protection law. We have also advised on various intellectual property and liability issues arising that may arise from the use of AI in the workplace (for example, in assessment and decision-making) and to produce work product such as marketing materials, images and code for software applications. Our clients range from prominent identify verification service providers to multinational telecommunications companies.
AI and Digital Trust are exciting, developing spaces, with laws and regulatory frameworks that continue to evolve, both domestically and internationally — and we are fully equipped to advise you on the following:
- legal, regulatory and governance issues relating to the development and deployment of AI in your organisation, including compliance with applicable laws, development and implementation of internal governance frameworks and addressing related ethical issues and risks
- implementing Singapore’s Model Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework, and other guidelines or legislation on the use of AI
- drafting and reviewing contracts for procuring or supplying AI-related technology and related services
- IP protection strategies for AI innovations
AI Research and Publications
Our team monitors legal developments in AI governance and regulation around the world. We have developed a series of articles on AI-related topics, including an explainer of Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework and addressing how AI is regulated, or may interact with, other fields.
Working together with Drew Academy, we provide solutions that reflect our deep understanding of underlying technologies, the risks and uncertainties involved and practical business considerations.
For more information about our publications on AI (and other technology topics), please visit the Drew Academy’s webpage at www.drewnapier.com/Academy/Artificial-Intelligence.
Our team has also contributed articles in the following publications:
- The Legal 500: Artificial Intelligence Comparative Guide 2023 (Singapore), available here.
- Chambers Global Practice Guides – Artificial Intelligence 2023 (Singapore) available here.
- Global Legal Insights: AI, Machine Learning & Big Data Laws and Regulations 2023, available here.
- Global Legal Insights: AI, Machine Learning & Big Data Laws and Regulations 2022, available here.