Australia's government asked to back away from heavy-handed AI regulation | The Business | ABC NEWS

How to regulate artificial intelligence is fast becoming a new battleground. An interim report from Australia's Productivity Commission warning the federal government against taking a heavy-handed approach has surprised some. Former Human Rights Commissioner and the co-director of the UTS Human Technology Institute, Ed Santow, says the idea that privacy and copyright protections need to be relaxed to realise AI's maximum gains is incorrect. Professor Santow's interview with ABC TV's The Business came as Australia's eSafety Commissioner released a report showing big tech companies aren't doing enough when it comes to combating child exploitation material on their platforms.
As for whether tech companies can be trusted to do the right thing when it comes to artificial intelligence, Professor Santow said "we shouldn't trick ourselves into thinking that they will go the extra mile necessarily in protecting the community if there isn't a clear return on investment for that. That's the role of regulation. It makes sure that we don't end up with the kind of lowest common denominator effect but rather we hold everyone to a standard that treats people fairly, and protects people's basic rights."
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