Detailed overview
Costa Rica does not currently have a comprehensive AI Act, but it has adopted a national AI strategy. The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024–2027 seeks to position Costa Rica as a leader in responsible AI adoption.
The strategy was launched by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications in October 2024. Official materials state that Costa Rica became the first Central American country with a public policy designed to guide AI use, adoption and development.
Costa Rica's AI strategy includes development of a normative framework setting technical and ethical guidelines for AI. It also prioritises deployment of 5G networks and creation of a National Centre of Excellence in AI to strengthen the country's digital infrastructure.
The strategy's action plan includes work on ethical and regulatory frameworks for AI, a regulatory sandbox model, a catalogue of public-sector AI projects, training for government officials and data-protection-related training. A regulatory sandbox is a controlled environment for testing AI or other digital innovation under supervision before broader deployment.
Costa Rica does not currently have one AI-specific penalty table. Penalties depend on the applicable legal regime, such as data protection, consumer protection, financial regulation, healthcare regulation, employment law, public-sector rules, civil liability or criminal law.
Practical requirements & details
Sourced from the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024–2027 launched by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) in October 2024.
Strategy components
- Development of a normative framework setting technical and ethical guidelines for AI.
- Deployment of 5G networks to strengthen digital infrastructure.
- Creation of a National Centre of Excellence in AI.
Action plan
- Ethical and regulatory frameworks for AI.
- Regulatory sandbox model — controlled environment for testing AI under supervision before broader deployment.
- Catalogue of public-sector AI projects.
- Training for government officials and data-protection-related training.
Penalties
- No AI-specific penalty table.
- Penalties depend on the applicable regime: data protection, consumer protection, financial, healthcare, employment, public-sector, civil or criminal law.