Maldives to introduce AI law in major state digitization drive
Island nation plans new AI law alongside identity, cybersecurity bills as government aims to digitize state systems and modernize public services
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives is preparing to introduce legislation to regulate artificial intelligence, as part of a broader push to digitize government systems in a small island nation seeking to modernize its administrative and economic model.
The proposed law, confirmed by President Mohamed Muizzu during a recent press briefing, is expected to be introduced alongside three other key bills covering digital transformation, digital identity and cybersecurity.
The move places the Maldives among a growing number of countries attempting to establish legal frameworks for artificial intelligence, as governments worldwide grapple with risks tied to data privacy, surveillance, and algorithmic control.
Officials say the legislation is tied to a wider plan to digitize core state functions within a short timeframe. For a country made up of widely dispersed islands, digital governance is often framed as a way to improve access to public services, reduce administrative delays, and centralize state operations.
However, analysts note that such rapid digitalization efforts can also concentrate state control over data systems, particularly in countries where institutional safeguards and independent oversight mechanisms remain limited.
The introduction of a digital identity framework and centralized civil registration system could significantly expand the government’s access to personal data.
Authorities aim to establish a unified civil registration network by the end of the year, consolidating population records into a single platform. While officials present this as an efficiency measure, similar systems globally have raised concerns over data security, misuse, and exclusion risks for vulnerable populations.
The government has set an ambitious target to complete the digitization of public administration by next year. Whether that timeline is achievable will depend on infrastructure readiness, regulatory clarity, and public trust in newly introduced digital systems.
The Maldives, best known globally for its tourism-driven economy, is increasingly positioning digital governance as part of its long-term development strategy. But as with many fast-moving technology initiatives, the balance between innovation and accountability is likely to shape how such reforms are received both domestically and internationally.
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