A bill revising the Personal Information Protection Act, which includes a special provision allowing the use of personal data for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, passed the National Assembly's plenary session on Wednesday.

With the amendment's passage, a special provision has been 마련됐다 that allows lawfully collected personal data to be used for AI technology development, provided that AI development is difficult with only pseudonymised or anonymised data and only when public and social necessity is recognised. It requires strengthened safety measures and review and resolution by the Personal Information Protection Commission.

The amendment also includes safeguards to minimise concerns about personal data infringements. In cases with large impacts and risks to data subjects' rights or interests, such as processing sensitive information or unique identifying information, risk factors must be assessed in advance and improvement measures 마련됐다. Companies or institutions using the special provision must disclose its main details through their personal information processing policies, and the commission must disclose the operational status of the AI special provision on its website.

To increase the special provision's effectiveness and support AI technology development in a timely manner, the commission plans to simplify the review process in cases where the AI technology or service is substantially identical or similar to one that has undergone the commission's review and resolution. It aims to reduce the burden of review and enable projects to move forward more quickly.

The amendment is an alternative that integrated and adjusted proposals by lawmakers Byung-deok Min (민병덕) and Dong-jin Ko (고동진) at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, and it was approved at the plenary session after review by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. It will take effect 6 months after promulgation following submission to and approval by the State Council. Until the law takes effect, the commission plans to broadly gather expert and on-site opinions to prepare an operating plan for the AI special provision and subordinate statutes in line with the law's intent.

Song Kyung-hee (송경희), chair of the Personal Information Protection Commission, said the special provision is meaningful in an era when the level of AI development directly leads to national competitiveness because it reasonably expands opportunities to use personal data while establishing a corresponding management and oversight system together with operators. She said the commission will continue to work to build an institutional foundation that can support AI technology innovation while protecting people's personal data.