The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) once sounded like something only possible in science fiction, but it has now become an essential part of our lives. Today, it is harder to find a field where AI is not present, including finance, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. AI presents both an opportunity for innovation and, simultaneously, social and ethical challenges. However, the accelerating development of AI technology has recently led to new tensions: a clash between countries' efforts to strengthen their digital sovereignty and the necessity for global governance of AI technology. This conflict highlights a contemporary dilemma where technological progress and international cooperation are intricately intertwined. Professor Paolo Bentivoglio, co-chair of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Technology Ethics Committee, deeply analyzed this issue in a recent column contributed to Project Syndicate. He points out that the strengthening of nation-centric digital sovereignty is hindering global cooperation, as major powers like the United States, China, and the European Union (EU) compete to control AI technology standards and data. Nation-centric approaches to AI have gradually intensified in recent years. Major powers, primarily the United States, China, and the European Union, are strengthening protectionist policies under the banner of digital sovereignty, aiming for data control and technological hegemony. For instance, the EU has prioritized data privacy and localization through GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), while China implements cyber sovereignty policies that strictly control data within its borders. The United States also regards AI and technology platforms as strategic assets, strengthening export controls for national security reasons. Professor Bentivoglio warns that this deepening of digital sovereignty could not only limit the potential of AI technology but also lead to outcomes detrimental to the interests of humanity as a whole in the long run. This is because countries are prioritizing their own interests, intensifying demands for data localization, fragmenting technological standards, and hindering international AI research cooperation. This not only slows down the pace of AI technology development but also makes it difficult to establish a common framework for the ethical use and risk management of AI at a global level. Ironically, AI is inherently a borderless technology. Key elements of AI development, such as algorithm development, data collection, and cloud-based processing, are not confined to a single nation. Training AI models requires vast amounts of data collected from around the world, and cutting-edge AI research is mostly conducted through the collaboration of international researchers. Cloud infrastructure is distributed across multiple countries, and AI services are provided to users worldwide, transcending national borders. Therefore, alongside technological advancement, the need for global governance has emerged, encompassing ethical standards, data privacy protection, and algorithmic transparency. Professor Bentivoglio argues that a similar multilateral approach is needed for AI governance, just as climate change agreements fostered global cooperation to mitigate global warming. In other words, universal and ethical international agreements must be established in the process of developing and utilizing AI technology. The Current State of AI Governance and the Movements of Major Nations In particular, digital sovereignty policies implemented by independent nations today are highly likely to lead to a breakdown in global cooperation. For example, data localization requirements hinder data exchange and collaboration, potentially impeding the pace of international research and development. As countries implement differing data regulations, such as Europe's GDPR, China's Data Security Law, and Russia's data localization laws, global companies face a complex regulatory environment. Furthermore, the absence of global technical standards risks weakening the compatibility of new AI products and services and acting as a barrier to technological advancement. The possibility of a fragmented global AI ecosystem is emerging as the United States and China each pursue their own nation-centric AI standards. This could particularly exacerbate difficulties for developing countries with limited resources. These nations may face pressure to choose between the two major blocs, which could limit their access to technology and economic opportunities. However, it is also true that digital sovereignty policies have their own valid reasons. Many countries adopt a stance of preventing their citizens' data from being leaked abroad, citing data privacy infringement and cybersecurity concerns. In particular, personal data protection and national security serve as key drivers for digital sovereignty policies. Large-scale data breaches, such as Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scan
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