BRICS Flags AI Risks To Copyright, Traditional Knowledge And Cultural Heritage

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 points to a critical area of AI policy for Asian nations: the protection of intellectual property and cultural heritage. This is not merely a philosophical debate; it directly impacts how AI models are trained and deployed across the region. For example, the vast and diverse traditional knowledge systems in countries like India and China are largely underrepresented in current digital datasets. If AI models are trained predominantly on Western data, there is a risk of cultural erosion and misrepresentation. The concern is that AI could inadvertently diminish the value or proper attribution of traditional knowledge, which often lacks formal copyright protection in the same way as modern intellectual property. This declaration suggests that BRICS members may pursue policies to ensure AI development respects and integrates diverse cultural data, potentially leading to new regulatory frameworks or data sovereignty initiatives within these economies. The challenge will be to define and implement these protections effectively across varied legal systems by 2026.