AI Regulation and Parliamentary Participation: A Regional Debate in Panama
The recent meeting titled “Innovation and Regulation for Development: Building Consensus toward People-Centered Artificial Intelligence” in Panama City highlighted the growing discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) regulation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Organized by ParlAmericas in collaboration with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including parliamentarians, specialists, civil society representatives, and members of the private sector.
Regional AI Regulatory Landscape
Among the key speakers was Noel Alonso Murray from Fundación Directorio Legislativo, who provided a comparative overview of the advances, challenges, and opportunities related to AI regulation in the region. She noted that Latin America is currently experiencing a surge in legislative activity regarding AI, but the pace of progress varies significantly across countries due to differing political and institutional contexts.
Alonso Murray emphasized that the region faces the critical challenge of transitioning from mere political will and draft legislation to the effective implementation of regulations. She pointed out that significant barriers, such as inadequate digital infrastructure and persistent capacity gaps, hinder this implementation process.
Advances, Tensions, and Good Practices
The presentation reviewed various national approaches to AI regulation, spotlighting countries like El Salvador and Peru, which have established operational regulatory frameworks. In contrast, countries such as Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia are in advanced stages of legislative debate, many of which are adopting risk-based governance models.
Alonso Murray also identified recurring tensions in the region, such as resistance to early regulation from certain scientific and private sector actors, the effects of electoral cycles on legislative agendas, and delays in regulations concerning personal data protection. These factors complicate the development of comprehensive AI regulation.
To navigate these complexities, she highlighted several parliamentary good practices, including the formation of specialized committees, fostering formal multi-stakeholder dialogue, and adopting Open Parliament approaches. These practices are essential for enhancing transparency, citizen participation, and accountability in debates on AI.
Regional Dialogue and Next Steps
The panel discussion also featured insights from Senator Sonia Shirley Bernal Sánchez from Colombia, Emanuella Ribeiro Halfeld Maciel from Instituto Alana in Brazil, and Juan Carlos Reynardus, a public policy consultant at Panama Legal Group. The session was moderated by Representative Rodrigo Goñi from Uruguay.
The event concluded with a call to deepen regional cooperation, promote people-centered AI governance frameworks, and strengthen the institutional capacities of parliaments. This collaborative effort aims to accompany technological development while safeguarding fundamental rights.
The participation of Fundación Directorio Legislativo in this meeting reflects its ongoing commitment to monitoring the regional legislative agenda, advocating for Open Parliament principles, and conducting comparative analyses of public policies related to innovation, democracy, and the responsible use of new technologies.
