AI regulation in Samoa (2026)

Samoa has no comprehensive AI law, no sectoral AI rules, and no formally published national AI strategy. The legal baseline remains the Privacy Act 2013 and Data Protection Guidelines 2020, neither of which addresses AI governance.

MCIT released and held a validation workshop on the Draft National ICT Policy 2025–2030, which enshrines principles of responsible data use, trust and safety, and strong cybersecurity, and designates digital transformation — including AI — as a cross-cutting national priority. The policy had not been formally enacted as of the available evidence.

On 13–14 November 2025, MCIT and UNDP convened a two-day technical workshop in Apia to assess AI-related risks (cyberattacks, fraud, misinformation) and draft action plans for AI assurance frameworks, authentication, and data provenance. Outcomes are advisory, not legally binding.

A US$20.05 million World Bank grant for the Digitally Connected and Resilient Samoa Project (launched March 2025) includes regulatory reforms covering data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital governance, providing an external funding channel that may accelerate AI-relevant policy development.

A draft National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025–2030 has been prepared, incorporating a national data governance framework. While not AI-specific, it addresses digital-infrastructure security that underpins AI deployment in the public sector.

The Draft National ICT Policy explicitly requires that any digitalisation — including AI adoption — reflect Fa'aSamoa (Samoan cultural values and traditions), signalling that future AI governance will incorporate cultural-rights considerations alongside technical standards.