ISO/IEC 42001: A Handbook To Avoid AI Governance Failures
Apr 03, 2025 - forbes.com
A class action lawsuit has been filed against TikTok and X in Germany, citing violations of the EU AI Act, GDPR, and Digital Services Act due to inadequate AI governance. The lawsuit highlights the risks of deploying AI systems without a structured governance framework. The article suggests that implementing ISO/IEC 42001, the AI Management System Standard, could have mitigated these risks by providing a structured, risk-based approach to AI governance. This standard emphasizes leadership accountability, risk assessments, transparency, and continuous monitoring, potentially preventing the legal issues faced by TikTok and X.
ISO/IEC 42001 aligns with EU regulations like the AI Act and DSA, serving as a compliance accelerator for European platforms. In the U.S., where AI regulation is less unified, it offers a proactive governance framework to mitigate litigation risks and address regulatory scrutiny. The article argues that ISO 42001 could serve as a litigation shield and AI governance blueprint, fostering trust and transparency while ensuring compliance with evolving legal expectations.
Key takeaways:
The lawsuit against TikTok and X highlights the risks of deploying AI systems without a structured governance framework.
ISO/IEC 42001 provides a structured, risk-based approach to AI governance that could have prevented the lawsuit.
ISO 42001 aligns with EU regulations like the AI Act, GDPR, and DSA, serving as a compliance accelerator for EU-based platforms.
In the U.S., ISO 42001 offers a proactive AI governance framework to mitigate regulatory uncertainty and litigation risk.
