The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority ('SDAIA') announced, on 17 August 2022, on its LinkedIn page, that it had launched a consultation and is seeking public comments on its project entitled Principles of Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. In particular, SDAIA explained that artificial intelligence ('AI') ethic principles have been developed with the aim to enhance data governance and AI in order to reduce the negative effects of AI systems and their potential threats.

More specifically, the draft principles outline that they apply to all parties (public, private, and non-profit) concerned with developing or adopting solutions based on AI, with the exclusion of AI solutions aimed at maintaining public health and safety.

Notably, the draft principles include, under Principle Two, privacy and security. Particularly, Principle Two of the draft principles highlights, among other things, that privacy and security represent the values ​​and overarching principles according to which AI systems are required, throughout their lifecycle, to be built in a secure manner and to take into account the privacy of the owners of personal data collected.

Public comments may be submitted until 1 September 2022 via a survey platform.

You can read the announcement here and the draft principles here and here, all only available in Arabic.