Manama: Zahra Murad, Chief Prosecutor and Head of the Cybercrime Prosecution, participated in a regional workshop on responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance in Arab countries, organized by the National Human Rights Institution (NIHR). Murad reviewed the Kingdom of Bahrain's experience in AI governance and digital transformation, including national policies and initiatives aimed at balancing the benefits of modern technologies with legal, security, and societal risks.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Murad highlighted the General Policy Guide for AI, reflecting Bahrain's approach toward the responsible and safe use of these technologies. She pointed to the Kingdom's advanced rankings in international indicators related to digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI readiness. The Chief Prosecutor discussed risks associated with AI technologies, referencing the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, as well as national laws addressing emerging crimes involving the misuse of modern technologies and related issues of criminal liability and digital evidence.
Murad noted that the Public Prosecution has embraced technological developments, with decisions and directives from Dr. Ali bin Fadhl Al Buainain, Attorney General, ensuring their responsible use within legal and ethical frameworks. She also emphasized the establishment of an AI team to explore AI applications in criminal proceedings, monitor developments, and exchange expertise.
The guide on the ethics of AI was reviewed, outlining principles and safeguards for responsible use of these technologies, including human oversight and legal safeguards related to judicial work. Murad further outlined the Public Prosecution's experience in using AI-supported electronic pleading in a case, where the technology helped organize, analyze, and present evidence before the court, clarifying the facts and links between the evidence.
She presented examples of cases where AI technologies were used to commit crimes, explaining how digital and technical evidence is examined, including verifying its source, integrity, and relevance to the case, and assessing its admissibility before the courts. Murad emphasized that the expanded adoption of AI technologies must proceed in tandem with the development of governance frameworks and ethical safeguards to balance innovation and the benefits of modern technologies with the protection of rights and legal and digital security, supporting Bahrain's efforts toward safe and sustainable digital transformation.