Taiwan’s legislature has approved the Artificial Intelligence Basic Act, a landmark piece of legislation that establishes a comprehensive legal framework to govern the development, deployment, and oversight of artificial intelligence across the country. The law was passed by the Legislative Yuan after its third reading in December 2025, marking a major milestone in the government’s efforts to balance AI innovation with social responsibility and public welfare.
Under the new act, the government is required to promote AI research, applications, and infrastructure while prioritizing broader societal goals such as social welfare, digital equity, national competitiveness, and innovation. The legislation lays out seven core guiding principles for AI development and use: sustainability and well‑being, human autonomy, privacy and data governance, cybersecurity and safety, transparency and explainability, fairness and non‑discrimination, and accountability. These principles are designed to ensure that AI systems are developed ethically and aligned with democratic values.
The Basic Act also lays out risk control measures to prevent harmful AI applications. It prohibits uses of AI that could infringe on people’s lives, freedom, property, or privacy, or that could undermine social order, national security, or environmental sustainability. To support national coordination, the law designates the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) as the central competent authority responsible for overseeing AI governance, while requiring the Executive Yuan to establish a national AI strategy committee led by the premier and including academic, industry, and government representatives.
In addition to setting principles and institutional structures, the act calls for funding and support for AI development, including assistance, subsidies, and training programs. It also promotes protections such as data openness with privacy safeguards, risk‑based management aligned with international standards, and workforce support measures like retraining for workers affected by AI adoption. As Taiwan formalizes this framework, it joins a growing number of economies moving to craft tailored AI laws that balance innovation with ethical and social considerations.
