Colombia submits public sector data bill with one eye on AI

The Colombian government submitted a bill to congress for the production and exchange of data by public bodies, and which is also aimed at fostering the development of AI in the country.

The bill was filed in the lower house of congress on May 22 by ICT minister Mauricio Lizcano. Discussions on the proposal are expected to take place throughout the second half of the year, but it is expected to be passed without any major difficulties.  

Despite targeting AI, the text cannot be considered a specific regulation for the technology, for example with standards for the production of content based on the use of AI or genAI by tech companies. 

It is instead a new framework for data production by public authorities with a view to promoting AI in the country.

Bill 448 essentially establishes provisions for the supply, exchange and use of the data infrastructure by the Colombian State.

The legislation will apply to entities that are part of the public administration, as well as to individuals who conduct administrative or public duties or who manage state resources, according to the government.

The main topics included are the mandatory production and sharing of data between different public bodies and government agencies. 

The legislation aims for public entities to produce master, reference and geospatial data, and other types of data required for public decision-making and to promote open data governance.

It is expected that more specific rules containing the guidelines will be defined subsequently.

In a statement, the presidency said that the bill is also intended to make Colombia a producer of technology, particularly of AI, rather than simply being a consumer.

“Data is the basis for developing artificial intelligence. If we want Colombia to become a technology producing country, we need data. Therefore, with this project, state entities would be obliged to produce relevant and important data, respecting privacy obviously, so that they can be used by the government with interoperability,” minister Lizcano said in a statement from the presidency.

The government claims that privacy and governance aspects will be observed, including the concept of habeas data, that is, not using citizens' personal information. 

“The idea is to use what is technically known as anonymous or pseudonymous data, that is, data that are not linked to a first and last name, but rather master, reference, geospatial and similar data that serves for the construction of public policy and the development of AI,” Lizcano added.

Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Brazil are among the countries currently debating, updating or that have already passed specific AI legislation.