This volume addresses one of the most significant challenges of the digital age: how to regulate artificial intelligence in a manner that promotes innovation while safeguarding human rights, democratic values and societal well-being. As the world advances toward Industry 5.0, technological progress is increasingly shaped by human-centric innovation, sustainability, and responsible automation. Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, public institutions and everyday life at an unprecedented pace, creating both remarkable opportunities and complex regulatory challenges. In this rapidly evolving environment, effective AI governance has become essential for ensuring that technological advancement remains aligned with ethical principles, legal accountability and public trust.

This book offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of AI regulation and governance in the context of Industry 5.0. Bringing together contributions from leading scholars and practitioners across law, public policy, ethics and technology, it explores emerging approaches to responsible AI development and deployment. The volume addresses critical issues including sovereign AI, AI nationalism, ethical governance frameworks, algorithmic accountability, transparency, explainability, human-centric policy design, and digital equity.

A central focus of the book is the protection of privacy, data protection and fundamental rights in increasingly AI-driven societies. Through comparative analyses of major regulatory frameworks—including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act, 2023) and other international approaches—the contributors examine legal safeguards designed to address challenges associated with automated decision-making, digital surveillance, and data governance.

The volume further explores global and comparative perspectives on AI regulation, examining developments across the European Union, the United States, India, and other jurisdictions. It highlights the growing importance of international cooperation, harmonized governance mechanisms, and institutional responses to the transnational nature of artificial intelligence. Particular attention is given to the role of international organizations, including the United Nations, in shaping the future architecture of AI governance.

Beyond regulatory and policy considerations, the book investigates broader constitutional, legal, and societal implications of artificial intelligence, including human rights protection, copyright, cultural rights, judicial decision-making, legal accountability, and public trust. Combining rigorous scholarship with practical policy insights, the contributors offer forward-looking recommendations for developing trustworthy, ethical, and socially beneficial AI ecosystems.

Written for policymakers, regulators, legal professionals, academics, researchers, industry leaders and graduate students, this volume serves as an essential resource for understanding the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, law, governance, and society in the era of Industry 5.0. It provides a timely roadmap for building responsible AI systems that advance innovation while preserving human dignity, social justice and sustainable development.

Md Tarique Jamal Ansari is a researcher working at the intersection of artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity and digital policy. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications from University of Lucknow in 2012 and completed his M.Sc. in Information Technology from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in 2015, where he was awarded the University Gold Medal for securing first rank. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Technology from the same university in 2020. Dr. Ansari also served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Delhi School of Public Policy and Governance, Institution of Eminence at the University of Delhi. His research focuses on AI regulation and governance, particularly in safeguarding human rights and promoting responsible innovation in the emerging paradigm of Industry 5.0. His broader research interests include security requirements engineering, software engineering, AI ethics, software security, software risk management, health informatics and big data analytics. Dr. Ansari has published extensively in international journals and actively contributes to the academic community as an editor, guest editor, and reviewer for several reputed scientific publications.

Anita Yadav is an Assistant Professor of Law (Stage II) at the Campus Law Centre University of Delhi. She obtained her LL.M. and Ph.D. from National Law School of India University. Prior to joining the University of Delhi, she taught at several prominent institutions, including National Law School of India University, Christ University, and Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College. She has also collaborated with S. Rajendra Babu in teaching LL.M. students. Dr. Yadav has received several academic recognitions, including the Global Pride Award (2023), and has been awarded prestigious fellowships and scholarships from organizations such as the United Nations, Erasmus Mundus, and The Hague Academy of International Law. She has edited books and published widely in national and international journals. Her research interests include human rights law, international humanitarian law, refugee law, environmental law, consumer protection, and the emerging interface between artificial intelligence and law.