At joint IPU/CPA/UNDP Conference in Malaysia global legislators call for AI guardrails
MPs from around the world have expressed deep concern about the unchecked evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and the absence of adequate safeguards to prevent irresponsible and potentially dangerous use of the rapidly evolving technology.
Some 200 MPs, parliamentary staff and experts convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 28 to 30 November 2025 for the international Conference The Role of Parliament in Shaping the Future of Responsible AI, co-organized by the IPU, the Parliament of Malaysia, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In their outcome Declaration, the MPs called for international cooperation to establish global redlines for the responsible use of AI in the “common interest of humanity” rather than allow power to be left solely in the hands of technology actors.
The legislators warned that, without oversight, rapid AI advances could erode public trust in elections and institutions, drive massive worker displacement, amplify existing discrimination against women, accelerate the climate emergency by vastly augmenting energy demands, and widen the digital divide within and between nations.
Parliamentary solutions
The Conference highlighted the many AI initiatives already taking place in parliaments including legislative reviews, reports, resolutions, inquiries, working groups and policy discussions.
Sessions also focused on building national capacity in AI, fostering international cooperation on AI regulation and understanding how AI might affect lawmaking and oversight.
The final declaration makes several recommendations, including the following. Parliaments are urged to: assess their AI-readiness and develop a strategy; set common rules and regulatory frameworks, especially to counter misinformation and AI-generated simulations in political life; support public education campaigns to improve AI literacy; review existing laws on data protection, privacy and cybersecurity to identify where they need to be strengthened; and investigate risks of gender bias or other forms of bias in AI development.
Parliamentary tools
At the Conference, the IPU published a new tool to guide parliaments in their artificial intelligence (AI) development activities. Developed by the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament, the Maturity Framework for AI in Parliaments offers structured guidance, drawing from the latest research as well as good practices from parliaments around the world.
The Framework should be used in conjunction with the IPU Guidelines for AI in parliaments, a recent IPU tool that provides comprehensive practical guidance to help parliaments responsibly adopt and implement AI.
The IPU also documents parliamentary actions on AI policy from around the world. To date, parliamentary actions have so far been observed in 57 countries. Information is sourced from parliaments and updated every month.
H.E. Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Johari bin Abdul, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia ©Parliament of Malaysia
