Kuwait has not yet adopted a national AI strategy, but the country's engagement with artificial intelligence takes place within the context of its "Kuwait Vision 2035 – New Kuwait" development plan. Launched in 2017, this plan aims to transform Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub for the region while aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Key elements of Kuwait's approach include focusing on digital economy and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), implementing e-government initiatives to enhance transparency and decentralise public services, and developing cybersecurity strategies to protect vital national infrastructure. The Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) and the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) play crucial roles in implementing Kuwait's digital transformation roadmap.
Kuwait lacks dedicated personal data protection legislation and a supervisory entity. However, CITRA has taken steps to provide governance and regulation to the technology sector through the Data Privacy Protection Regulation (DPPR) and the Data Classification Policy (DCP). These regulations address data collection, storage, processing, and transfer, but do not specifically address AI-related issues such as automated decision-making. The country's constitution protects the right to privacy, but concerns have been raised about the potential for surveillance through cybercrime laws and the use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kuwait has implemented biometric systems for various purposes, including border control, e-passports, and a new Digital ID card launched in 2020. The government has also announced plans for smart sustainable cities in line with the Kuwait Vision 2035.
On the international stage, Kuwait has endorsed the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and played a leading role in its development. The country chairs the UNESCO Group of Friends of the Implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation on AI governance. However, Kuwait faces challenges in human rights and freedom of expression. Freedom House rates Kuwait as "Partially Free," with concerns about limitations on free speech and punishment of dissidents.
Kuwait's AI governance is still in its early stages, with several areas for improvement. These include developing a comprehensive national AI strategy, modernising data protection laws to address AI-specific concerns, enhancing public participation in AI policy development, strengthening governance and oversight mechanisms, and addressing human rights concerns, particularly around freedom of expression.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/