Officials to seek curbs on misuse of AI in schools

 The moves, which may include changes to the law, come after doctored nude images of schoolgirls were sold online.

Nancy Shukri, the minister for women, family and community development, said a brainstorming session involving relevant ministries is being planned.

PETALING JAYA: 

Government officials are to look into ways to prevent misuse of artificial intelligence tools in schools, according to the minister for women, family and community development, Nancy Shukri.

She said the ministry is aware of growing public concern over the unregulated use of AI in educational settings, particularly its potential to harm schoolchildren.

“I’ve asked ministry officials to look into what more can be done from a legal standpoint. We may need to amend legislation and boost our enforcement capabilities,” she told reporters at the ministry’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering today.

Her comments come in the wake of the arrest of two teenagers over the sale of AI-generated nude images of a schoolgirl and alumni of a private secondary school in Kulai, Johor.

A 16-year-old schoolboy and a 19-year-old were arrested for allegedly using an AI tool to manipulate the images and selling them for RM2 each. Local media reports said 38 victims, some as young as 13, had been identified.

Yesterday, the board of directors of Foon Yew High School in Kulai announced that the principal, Gan Chuang Chee, had resigned following the arrests.

Nancy said an internal brainstorming session involving relevant ministries and others is being planned to explore preventive measures. The session, to take place soon, will also look into strengthening enforcement mechanisms to keep pace with emerging digital threats, Bernama reported.

She confirmed that the communications and education ministries would be among those involved in the study to ensure a coordinated government response to the issue.

The minister said discussions would also address gaps in current digital literacy and parenting programmes, particularly in underserved rural communities, where young people are often more vulnerable to online exploitation. - FMT