President Muizzu Announces New AI Law to Drive Maldives Digital Transformation

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Maldives will introduce a comprehensive law to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to position the nation as a regional leader in technological innovation. The announcement came during the President's weekly press conference, highlighting a strategic shift toward proactively governing emerging technologies rather than merely adopting them. This upcoming AI legislation is a central component of the "Maldives 2.0" digitalization initiative. The government plans to present the AI bill to the Majlis (Maldivian Parliament) alongside three other critical pieces of legislation: the Digital Transformation Bill, the Digital Identity Bill, and the Cybersecurity Bill. Together, these laws form a legal framework intended to secure and streamline the nation's digital future. President Muizzu emphasized that while the country must embrace AI to remain competitive, such integration must be balanced with strict legal oversight. "AI is something we need to embrace if we are going to be at the forefront of digitalisation. When we embrace AI, it needs to be regulated through the legal system," the President explained. The administration has set an ambitious timeline to digitize the entire state apparatus by next year, coinciding with the introduction of the AI law. This overhaul is rooted in the principles of good governance, with the primary goal of drastically increasing the efficiency and accessibility of government services for all citizens. As an immediate milestone in this digital transition, the government intends to establish a single, unified network for civil registration services by the end of this year. Once completed, this project is expected to make the Maldives one of the most comprehensive providers of civil registration services in the region, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing data accuracy for the population.