May 30 2024

NCIA Legal Adviser participates in Chief Legal Officer Global Summit

From 22 to 24 May 2024, the NATO Communications and Information Agency's (NCIA) Legal Adviser participated in the three-day Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Chief Legal Officer Global Summit in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

The event brought together the highest-ranking legal officers from around the world for a peer-to-peer benchmarking programme tackling topics such as challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

NCIA Legal Adviser participates in Chief Legal Officer Global Summit

NCIA Legal Adviser, Sujin Chan-Allen, spoke during the AI governance plenary. The discussion covered how legal teams play a crucial role in providing clear guidance on navigating this ever-changing regulatory environment.

Chan-Allen highlighted the importance of being prepared for issues that may be encountered by dual-use technology in regulatory initiatives. "AI models, systems and tools are developed and used in both commercial and military contexts, but the current state of governance does not yet fully capture those implications," explained NCIA Legal Adviser Sujin Chan-Allen. "In the transatlantic sphere, governance is a mosaic of multi-speed and multi-track initiatives in law and policy. The aspect of military use needs to be synchronized and harmonized accordingly."

As a key technological enabler for NATO, NCIA acts as the interface with industry providers of cybersecurity, as well as decision-support systems. Companies that develop and deploy AI tools or systems need to be proactive in preparing for upcoming regulatory changes, complying with legislation and aligning with NATO policies on responsible AI use. This has cross-cutting implications for cybersecurity governance, data protection, and export laws.