By Dr. Tawhid CHTIOUI, President and Founder of aivancity, the leading institution for AI and data
\n\nArtificial intelligence plays a central role in today’s global landscape, offering revolutionary potential in terms of economic innovation, social progress, and improvements to everyday life. However, this technological revolution poses significant legal and ethical challenges, particularly for developing countries, which must not only catch up technologically but also establish regulatory frameworks tailored to their local contexts.
\n\nStrict regulations such as the European AI Act, the U.S. AI Executive Order, and the Canadian Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (LIAD) provide examples of advanced and detailed frameworks designed to protect citizens from the misuse of AI. These frameworks establish robust requirements for transparency, accountability, and control. However, applying these frameworks directly to developing countries raises significant concerns. Rigid Western regulations could stifle innovation and may not be fully applicable given the significant cultural, economic, and institutional differences.
\n\nThis dilemma requires emerging countries to consider hybrid and innovative approaches that strike a balance between protecting citizens and adopting AI in a flexible, pragmatic manner. But how can emerging countries reconcile effective regulation with the promotion of innovation? What specific factors need to be taken into account when defining an appropriate legal framework? How can we anticipate and manage the economic, social, and ethical impacts of the widespread adoption of AI in these countries?
\n\nCurrently, most emerging economies are still exploring the best approaches to regulating artificial intelligence, wavering between regulatory caution and encouraging innovation.
\n\nIn Africa, the African Union has taken a significant step forward by adopting, effective July 2024, a continental strategy focused on ethical and responsible regulation, while emphasizing the need for an approach tailored to the local realities of member countries.
\n\nThis strategy includes a specific component dedicated to AI regulation and safety, while promoting a flexible approach that allows member countries to gradually develop their own regulatory frameworks tailored to their specific contexts. The document highlights several key aspects essential to the successful integration of AI in Africa. In particular, it emphasizes the need to develop local human capital in order to build a skilled workforce capable not only of using, but also of designing AI technologies that meet African needs and reflect local specificities. Additionally, the strategy underscores the importance of improving digital infrastructure, such as internet connectivity and data centers, to ensure sovereign management of local data. It also encourages the growth of the AI-related economy, notably through support for innovative startups and the creation of a favorable environment for technological investment. Finally, it calls for the establishment of sustainable regional and international partnerships that will enable African countries to benefit from skills sharing and technology transfer, while ensuring regular monitoring and evaluation of progress made. This strategy thus represents a balanced and ambitious model, fully integrating ethical, economic, cultural, and social considerations, to ensure that artificial intelligence makes a positive and lasting contribution to the development of the African continent.
\n\nAt the national level, legal frameworks related to artificial intelligence are still in their infancy in many African countries. Côte d’Ivoire, for example, is stepping up its efforts to combat digital disinformation in the run-up to the presidential elections, but does not yet have a comprehensive, structured AI framework.
\n\nIn Senegal, the political shift in 2024 following the election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye marked a new direction in technological development. The country moved away from the approach of the Plan Sénégal Émergent (PSE) in favor of the “Sénégal Horizon 2050” vision, centered on structural, inclusive, and sovereign transformation. In February 2025, the Senegalese authorities launched a new digital strategy titled “New Technological Deal,” of which artificial intelligence is one of the pillars.
\n\nThis strategy aims to integrate AI into public policies in a cross-cutting manner, linking it to national priorities: education, healthcare, agriculture, governance, and entrepreneurship. It also calls for the development of an AI-specific legal framework, as well as comprehensive reform of data protection, digital law, and cybersecurity. Particular emphasis is placed on technological sovereignty, the development of local skills, and the promotion of African solutions grounded in Senegal’s linguistic and social realities.
\n\nAlthough still in the development phase, this strategy reflects a strong commitment not merely to embrace the digital transition, but to steer it in an ethical and inclusive manner, tailored to the country’s needs. Senegal thus aims to become a key player in the regional governance of AI in West Africa.
\n\nIn Egypt, although initiatives such as the creation of the National Council for Artificial Intelligence and the adoption of the Egyptian Charter for Responsible AI have been implemented to promote the ethical use of AI, the country does not yet have a national legal framework specific to AI. The Charter, adopted in 2023, aims to ensure the ethical use, deployment, and management of AI systems in Egypt, incorporating principles such as fairness, transparency, human-centeredness, accountability, and safety. However, the absence of specific AI legislation undermines the effective application of these principles.
\n\nThese examples illustrate the efforts made by African countries such as Senegal and Egypt to integrate AI into their development strategies. However, the lack of specific and comprehensive legal frameworks on AI highlights the need for these nations to strengthen their legal infrastructure to ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
\n\nMorocco, meanwhile, is taking a proactive, balanced approach: although there is as yet no legislation specifically dedicated to AI, the country is building on several existing frameworks, such as Law 09-08 on the protection of personal data and Law 05-20 on the cybersecurity of digital infrastructures. In May 2024, the Moroccan Minister of Justice announced the preparation of an ambitious bill aimed at specifically regulating AI and its uses, taking into account the potential challenges and threats associated with these technologies. This draft would comprise 17 articles covering personal data, governance (including the creation of a national committee dedicated to the oversight of AI systems), and compliance (cybersecurity and privacy).
\n\nIn addition, Morocco has reinforced its international commitment by establishing, effective November 2023, an International Center for Artificial Intelligence under the auspices of UNESCO, with the aim of promoting AI in Africa through applied research, training, and local capacity building.
\n\nThese initiatives clearly demonstrate Morocco’s commitment to developing a comprehensive public policy on AI that combines technological innovation, responsible governance, and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights.
\n\nIn Asia, India is adopting a flexible, evolutionary approach, favoring sector-specific and progressive regulation. To date, India does not have a single framework law dedicated exclusively to AI, preferring a pragmatic mix of policies, guidelines, and regulations tailored to local contexts and priority sectors. Back in 2018, the Indian government think tank NITI Aayog defined an ambitious “National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence” aimed at positioning India as a global leader in key areas such as healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities, and mobility. Since 2022, this sector strategy has been accompanied by a significant update to the overall regulatory framework through the draft “Digital India Act,” designed to regulate new technologies, including AI. In parallel, a major Personal Data Protection Act, passed by the Indian parliament in August 2023, provides for important complementary regulations to come. In March 2024, the Indian government took a further step by requiring AI providers to obtain prior approval before deploying experimental models, in order to prevent discriminatory bias and protect electoral integrity in the run-up to general elections. Last but not least, India’s active participation in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (PMIA, OECD, 2025) demonstrates a desire to be part of an international effort, while preserving the scope for national innovation necessary for its technological development.
\n\nIn December 2024, Malaysia launched a National Artificial Intelligence Office dedicated to AI policy development and regulation. This initiative aims to centralize AI-related efforts, provide strategic planning, encourage research and development, and ensure regulatory oversight. Initial objectives include establishing a code of ethics for AI, creating a regulatory framework, and implementing a five-year technology action plan through 2030. At the same time, Malaysia has formed strategic partnerships with major companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which have invested in the country’s data centers, cloud, and AI projects.
\n\nSingapore, which plays a leading role in developing governance and ethical guidelines for AI within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is actively collaborating with member countries to develop an AI application guide for the region’s public and private sectors. In 2023, Singapore updated its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, originally launched in 2019, to reflect technological developments and national priorities.
\n\nThese examples illustrate the diversity of approaches adopted by emerging countries to regulate and promote the use of artificial intelligence, in accordance with their national contexts and strategic priorities—approaches that are distinct yet converging toward a balanced regulation of AI. These emerging countries are actively seeking to strike the right balance between the responsible adoption of legal frameworks inspired by international standards and careful respect for local cultural, economic, and institutional specificities. This constantly evolving approach is essential to enable these countries to fully exploit the opportunities offered by AI, while effectively protecting their citizens against potential abuses.
\n\nEmerging economies face several major challenges in their approach to AI regulation.
\n\nFirst and foremost, their limited institutional capacities pose a major obstacle: judicial and regulatory institutions, which are often underfunded and lack technical expertise, struggle to develop and implement appropriate regulatory frameworks, thereby paving the way for potential abuses such as algorithmic bias, excessive surveillance, or invasions of privacy. However, they can also present an opportunity to create hybrid, pragmatic, and innovative models, far removed from Western regulations that are sometimes too rigid, as in India, which favors sector-specific regulation tailored to the risks associated with each AI application.
\n\nIn addition, the rapid rise of automation poses significant social challenges, particularly in terms of labor law. Key sectors such as services, finance, and manufacturing could undergo profound changes, threatening the jobs of the most vulnerable groups. Particular attention must be paid to the digital sector, where click workers—who are primarily responsible for data labeling—often work under precarious conditions and without adequate legal protection.
\n\nFinally, the issue of digital sovereignty is emerging as a fundamental strategic challenge. Emerging countries’ dependence on foreign technological solutions limits their control over critical infrastructure and sensitive data. To address this vulnerability, investment in autonomous local infrastructure—such as Morocco’s project for sovereign data centers and tailored language models—is a promising path forward. These initiatives not only strengthen economic resilience but also ensure better protection for citizens and their data, laying the groundwork for effective digital sovereignty.
\n\nA hybrid, balanced, and tailored regulatory approach is the preferred path for emerging countries, combining protection, innovation, and regulatory flexibility. However, this approach must be accompanied by a thorough examination of the ethical issues inherent in AI. A robust ethical framework is essential to guide AI innovation. This framework should be based on universal principles such as transparency, fairness, explainability, integrity, and reliability. AI also requires clear, independent oversight and audit mechanisms to identify and quickly correct any deviations. Emerging countries can draw on UNESCO’s international recommendations and PMIA practices, while adapting them to their own socio-economic contexts to establish their own ethical charter.
\n\nSeveral critical questions remain unanswered: How can developing countries ensure that the data used to train AI models truly reflects their cultural and linguistic realities? How can they avoid becoming increasingly dependent on technological solutions developed primarily in Western contexts? What institutional and international mechanisms should be considered to foster more equitable and inclusive cooperation in the field of AI?
\n\nThese questions will shape future debates on AI, calling for more participatory and inclusive global governance, in which emerging countries play an active role in defining international standards and developing technologies tailored to their specific needs. The challenge is clear: to work together to build a digital future that is truly equitable and beneficial for all.
African Union (2024). Continental Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.\n
OECD (2025). PMIA: Towards Responsible Artificial Intelligence.
UNESCO (2023). Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
ISED Canada (2024). Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (LIAD).
Africa Cybersecurity Magazine
CNDP Morocco (2024). Draft law on AI regulation in Morocco.
NITI Aayog (2023). Principles for responsible AI in India.
ILO (2023). The future of work in the face of automation in emerging countries.
Médias24 (2024). Morocco considers a legal framework for artificial intelligence.
Le Matin (2023). UNESCO International Center for Artificial Intelligence in Morocco.
AISigil (2023). National strategy for artificial intelligence in India.
Trésor (2023). Digital India Act and Data Protection Act in India.
Digital Century (2024). Regulation of AI models by Indian authorities.
By Dr. Tawhid CHTIOUI, President and Founder of aivancity, the Grande École of AI and Data Introduction Artificial intelligence plays a central role in today’s global landscape, offering revolutionary potential in terms of…
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