BRICS Leaders Urge Data Protection From Unauthorised AI Use

• BRICS leaders advocate for AI protections and fair payment for data used in AI training.
• Summit condemns attacks on Gaza and Iran, pushing for global institutional reforms.
• Over 30 nations show interest in joining BRICS, highlighting its rising global influence.

At their two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro, the leaders of the BRICS countries called for fair compensation systems to counteract the over-harvesting of personal data by large, wealthy technology companies that have been reluctant to pay copyright licensing fees to use AI training data. They also discussed measures against the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence.

Museum of Modern Art on Sunday and Monday, also saw BRICS leaders condemn attacks on Gaza and Iran, push for reforms in global institutions, and position the bloc as a hub for multilateral diplomacy amid escalating global conflicts and trade disputes. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in his opening remarks, likened BRICS to the Cold War’s Non-Aligned Movement, stating, “BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement. With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.”

The BRICS alliance was originally constituted in 2009, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and thereafter South Africa was included, and as of 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined the alliance. This is the first full-membership summit of Indonesia.

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Representing over half the world’s population and 40% of global economic output, BRICS is gaining influence as forums like the G7 and G20 face divisions, exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies. Lula highlighted this shift to business leaders on Saturday, warning of rising protectionism.

However, the bloc’s expansion has raised questions about its unity, given the inclusion of regional rivals and diverse economies. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his premier in his place, while Russian President Vladimir Putin participated virtually due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Leaders present included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

More than 30 nations have expressed interest in joining BRICS as full members or partners, signaling its growing diplomatic weight.