Regulation

local and regional rules that govern journalism and ai use

Rules for AI differ by country and region, and they are still taking shape. This card helps a team find out which laws and standards apply to its work, from data protection to AI-specific acts. Knowing the rules that govern you is the ground for any policy you write on top of them.

Questions to explore

// use these as prompts in a workshop or on your own. There are no right answers.

Which AI and data rules apply where your newsroom operates?
How do regulations affect what you may do with audience or source data?
Who in your organization tracks new rules as they arrive?
How do you stay compliant when reporting across borders with different rules?
What would a new AI rule need to change before you revised your practice?

Expert voices

// notes from the journalists and AI experts who helped shape this kit

“Is there a legal framework in your country to protect copyright from generative AI? Are creators and journalists protected if AI uses their work without consent?”

Anastasiia Korinovska, Suspilne

“AI is highly or completely unregulated in most Southern African countries. That means newsrooms must work out for themselves which legal aspects apply and which terms of use to set.”

Peter Deselaers, DW Akademie

Things to consider

Rules vary by region, so confirm which ones apply to you.
Assign someone to watch for regulatory changes that affect your work.
Data protection law often applies to AI use even without AI-specific rules.

using this card

Pull Regulation when it is relevant and set it aside when it is not. Pair it with the other AI Conversations cards, lay them out on a table, and use the questions above to get everyone on the same page. Capture what you discuss on sticky notes or in a shared doc.