Detailed overview
The Dominican Republic does not currently have a comprehensive AI Act, but it has adopted a national AI strategy and a presidential decree governing public-sector implementation.
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, known as ENIA, was launched in October 2023. Official presidential materials describe the Dominican Republic as the first country in Central America and the Caribbean to launch a national AI strategy.
The strategy is supported by Decree No. 498-23. The decree requires the National AI Strategy and its action plan to be available on the national digital and innovation agenda platform and gives the Digital Innovation and Development Cabinet responsibility for monitoring the strategy and its projects.
The decree also allows annual updates to the AI strategy, including changes to objectives, lines of action and targets. All executive-branch entities must coordinate their AI initiatives and projects with the Digital Innovation and Development Cabinet to ensure strategic, technical and operational alignment with ENIA.
Executive-branch entities must also include AI programmes, projects and initiatives in their multiannual, strategic and operational planning instruments, under the relevant planning authorities, to ensure financing and timely implementation.
The Dominican Republic does not currently have one AI-specific penalty table for private-sector AI systems. Penalties depend on the underlying legal framework, such as data protection, cybersecurity, 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 (ENIA) launched in October 2023 and Decree No. 498-23 governing public-sector AI implementation under the Digital Innovation and Development Cabinet.
ENIA
- National AI Strategy launched October 2023.
- First national AI strategy in Central America and the Caribbean.
Decree No. 498-23
- Requires the strategy and action plan to be available on the national digital and innovation agenda platform.
- Gives the Digital Innovation and Development Cabinet responsibility for monitoring the strategy and its projects.
- Allows annual updates to the AI strategy — objectives, lines of action and targets.
Obligations on executive-branch entities
- Coordinate AI initiatives with the Digital Innovation and Development Cabinet for strategic, technical and operational alignment with ENIA.
- Include AI programmes, projects and initiatives in multiannual, strategic and operational planning instruments — to secure financing and timely implementation.
Penalties
- No AI-specific penalty table for private-sector AI systems.
- Penalties depend on the underlying framework: data protection, cybersecurity, consumer, financial, healthcare, employment, public-sector, civil or criminal law.