Singapore: Singapore and UK sign enhanced agreement

in short

Singapore and the UK have signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to improve the safety and reliability of the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The agreement aims to pave the way for greater public trust in advances in artificial intelligence. The MoU was signed by Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo and Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Peter Kyle during Minister Teo’s working visit to the UK.

The new MoU builds on the long-standing digital partnership between Singapore and the UK, formalized through the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA) which comes into force in 2022. Since then, the two countries have continued to cooperate on digital and cybersecurity matters. Including the signing of five memorandums of understanding (MoU) under UKSDEA. These MoUs cover various areas including digital trade facilitation, digital identity, cybersecurity, data cooperation and emerging technologies.

The latest AI protocol is in line with the commitments made by Singapore and the UK at the AI ​​Security Summit in the UK in November 2023, as well as the goals of the International Network of AI Security Institutes to coordinate research, standards and testing efforts.

The MoC documents the active exchange and cooperation in research between the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Digital Trust Center (DTC), the UK Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the UK AI Security Institute, International standard setting and safety testing. The Department of Transportation confirmed the importance of international cooperation in advancing AI safety science and mapped out pathways for deeper cooperation in AI safety, including frameworks around information sharing and intellectual property rights.

As announced by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the new partnership will strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ Artificial Intelligence Security Institutes (AISI). Main areas of cooperation include:

1. Artificial Intelligence Security Research: Strengthen joint efforts to advance artificial intelligence safety science, focusing on the development of safer artificial intelligence systems and risk management.
2. global norms: Collaborate on international AI security standards and protocols, including through possible collaboration with the Network of AI Security Institutes, to ensure a global approach to mitigating AI risks.
3. information sharing: Expand knowledge exchange between the two countries’ AI security institutes to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in a trustworthy and secure manner for global use.
4. Comprehensive AI testing: Jointly develop a security testing framework that provides reliable assessment throughout the AI ​​lifecycle.

For more information, see MDDI’s press release.

The new MoC is an important step in promoting the safe and reliable use of artificial intelligence technology. It highlights the importance of international collaboration in advancing AI safety and governance, and builds on the strong digital partnership between Singapore and the UK.

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