TRAI proposes board-level AI oversight for telcos

As concerns over data security mount amid a series of cyberattacks, data breaches and software vulnerabilities affecting digital systems, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed bringing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in telecom networks under a formal accountability framework, making operators responsible for failures even when the technology is outsourced to third-party vendors.

Under draft guidelines released on Friday, operators will have to put in place board-approved AI policies, establish dedicated governance committees and introduce mechanisms to monitor and report AI-related incidents. The proposals seek to bring greater accountability to the use of AI in a sector that forms a critical part of the country’s digital infrastructure.