Experts discuss legal frameworks for AI, cybersecurity at IGCF25

September 10, 2025 / 10:47 PM

Sharjah 24: Two panel discussions at the 14th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), focused on the growing relevance of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The sessions, titled “Artificial Intelligence and its Applications in Law” and “Leveraging Digital Media to Increase Cyber-resilience,” explored how AI can be integrated across key sectors like education, healthcare, and urban planning, and how digital tools can be used to boost cyber protection.

Utilising AI effectively in legal practice

In the first session, Emirati lawyer and legal advisor Dr. Abdullah Al Nasser discussed the transformative impact of AI in legal work, stating that its use is now essential rather than optional.

He said, “The essence of the matter is not the fear that AI will replace humans, but rather how to harness it to serve the profession. AI is a tool. The responsibility lies with the human who uses it. The technology cannot yet be held directly accountable.”

Dr. Al Nasser pointed out that one of the biggest legal challenges today is the lack of legislation defining responsibilities related to AI usage.

Ali Al Ghaithi, a Data Scientist and AI Engineer, presented a practical approach called “prompt engineering” to optimise AI outputs. He explained that the accuracy of AI responses depends heavily on the clarity of the prompt, including factors like the user’s role, purpose, constraints, time and place context, and desired outcomes.

“The more specific and clear the request, the more accurate and appropriate the model's response will be,” Al Ghaithi said.

Building resilient cyber systems

In the second panel titled “Leveraging Digital Media to Increase Cyber-resilience,” Zayed Saeed Al Shamsi, lawyer and Chairman of the Emirates Association for Lawyers and Legal, addressed the risks emerging from digital transformation.

He warned that while digital tools offer many advantages, their widespread use also increases vulnerability to cyberattacks.

“It is the extensive use that opens the door wide open to cyberattacks, hence the urgent need for cybersecurity,” Al Shamsi stated.

He underscored the role of digital media as more than just a channel for information. Instead, it should act as a frontline defence by raising continuous awareness, exposing fraud attempts, and promoting a culture of protection at both the individual and institutional levels.

Al Shamsi concluded, “We must understand all these digital transformations—not to fear them—but to transform them into tools of protection and prevention. If properly utilised, media can be a protective shield that protects society from vulnerability to cyber attacks.”