On Jan. 22, the comprehensive law regulating the use of AI models — the AI Basic Act — came into effect in South Korea, addressing misinformation and establishing a relevant legal framework, Yonhap reported. Notably, the country refers to the development as the first such law to be introduced globally.
Under new rules, companies and AI developers must undertake greater obligations to address deepfake content and misinformation arising from the use of AI generative models, enabling authorities to fine up to roughly $20,400 and investigate reported violations.
Furthermore, the act introduces «high-risk AI» — models used in areas that significantly affect citizens’ lives, such as medical advice. The high-risk AI-generated content must be labeled with a relevant watermark.
The outlet noted that a one-year temporary exemption period is planned to allow the entities to adjust. The law was passed in December 2024.
Separately, Kazakhstan is also regulating the use of generative AI — the relevant law came into force on Jan. 18, requiring that generated content be labeled in a machine-readable format that can be automatically recognized by software and digital systems.
