What is Shaping Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Policies in Southeast Asia?
What is Shaping Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Policies in Southeast Asia?
https://fulcrum.sg/what-is-shaping-artificial-intelligence-ai-governance-policies-in-southeast-asia/
Publish Date: 2026-03-13 04:00:00
Source Domain: fulcrum.sg
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ASEAN’s AI Governance Initiatives: ASEAN released the ASEAN Guide on AI Ethics and Governance in February 2024, followed by a supplementary guide for Generative AI in February 2025. These frameworks provide guidelines for safe AI design, deployment, and usage across member states.
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Status of AI Policies in ASEAN Countries: Before the ASEAN AI Guide, six out of ten ASEAN member states had AI strategies in place, with Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar lacking formal AI policies. As of 2025, Brunei implemented its AI governance and ethics guide, while Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar continue to develop their national AI strategies.
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Role of Data-Protection Authorities (DPAs): DPAs are increasingly seen as crucial for overseeing AI compliance and enforcement. Southeast Asia’s DPAs have shaped key AI policy documents, but varying capacities suggest a need for enhancements to fulfill regulatory roles effectively.
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Vietnam’s Adoptive Approach: Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country to enact an AI Law that will become effective in phases starting from March 2026. Vietnam customized the EU’s risk-based approach and frameworks from South Korea and Japan, while creating a locally relevant governance structure.
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Geopolitical Influence on AI Governance: While China’s AI governance initiatives have not gained much traction internationally, its competitive pricing and open-source large language models provide significant influence in the region’s AI infrastructure. This raises geopolitical tensions as countries balance economic benefits against strategic interests.
