AI regulation in Timor-Leste (2026)

Timor-Leste has not enacted or formally tabled any AI-specific statute. AI-related protections are piecemeal, drawing on constitutional privacy provisions and consultation of regional (ASEAN) frameworks rather than a domestic AI regime.

Timor-Leste's first national AI Readiness Assessment was conducted in 2025 using UNESCO's RAM methodology, with multi-stakeholder workshops on 8-9 April and 27 May 2025 to map regulatory, social, economic and infrastructural readiness and produce a roadmap for ethical AI.

Timor-Leste is among the 194 UNESCO Member States that adopted the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which serves as the blueprint for its readiness work — but this is a non-binding international instrument, not domestic law.

The main strategic document, Timor Digital 2032 (2023-2032) under TIC Timor, does not explicitly mention AI but is being revised to incorporate it; AI is seen as relevant to e-governance, health, education and agriculture, supported by digital ID and interoperability investments.

Timor-Leste has no general personal data protection law. The Ministry of Justice released a draft Cybercrime Law in 2025 (criticised by civil society over online-freedom and privacy concerns) and says it is working on a Data Protection Law — foundational gaps for any future AI governance.

Timor-Leste participated as an observer in the ASEAN AI Summit 2025 (aligned with its ASEAN accession track) and, in December 2025, signed a strategic partnership with technology firm Zchwantech to co-develop a 'sovereign AI-powered' digital nation under the Timor Digital 2032 framework.