Detailed overview
Palestine does not currently have a comprehensive AI Act equivalent to the EU AI Act. Its AI framework is based on a national AI strategy process, digital transformation policy, open-data policy, capacity-building, public-sector AI planning and existing laws.
The Palestinian National Team for Artificial Intelligence approved the final version of the Artificial Intelligence Strategy and recommended its adoption by the Council of Ministers. The same official communication states that the team also recommended adoption of an AI policy and open-data policy, both considered necessary to support the AI strategy and its action plan.
The National AI Team was formed by a Council of Ministers decision on 6 September 2021. It includes representatives from multiple public authorities and sectors, including interior, finance, economy, education, higher education, transport, health, entrepreneurship, the Council of Ministers, energy and natural resources, civil service, innovation bodies, academia and the private sector.
Palestine's Digital Agenda 2030 also includes AI-related measures. It refers to strengthening AI and emerging-technology education in schools and higher education, gradually introducing AI into government services to reduce effort and time and improve transparency and integrity, and creating a Palestinian research fund for modern technologies and artificial intelligence to serve development sectors such as health and education.
The Digital Agenda also links AI to data protection and public trust. It identifies the need to protect digital data of individuals and institutions and refers to adopting a personal-data protection law and a right-to-information law. It also sets targets for AI-related qualifications and support for research in modern technologies and AI.
For businesses, Palestine should be treated as a strategy and monitoring jurisdiction. There is no general AI licensing system, no AI-specific high-risk classification statute and no single AI-specific penalty table. AI compliance currently depends on existing laws and future implementation of AI policy, open-data policy and digital-transformation measures.
AI systems in Palestine may trigger requirements under data protection once adopted, cybersecurity, telecoms regulation, consumer protection, financial regulation, healthcare rules, education rules, public-sector procurement, employment law, intellectual property and criminal law. AI used in public services, healthcare, education, transport, financial services or government decision-making should be monitored closely because those sectors are directly connected with the national AI and digital agenda.
Practical requirements & details
Sourced from the Palestinian National Team for Artificial Intelligence final-version AI Strategy recommendation, the Council of Ministers decision of 6 September 2021 forming the team, and Digital Agenda 2030.
National AI Strategy — final version
- Approved by the Palestinian National Team for AI.
- Recommended for adoption by the Council of Ministers.
- Accompanied by a recommended AI policy and open-data policy.
National AI Team composition
- Formed by Council of Ministers decision on 6 September 2021.
- Members from: interior, finance, economy, education, higher education, transport, health, entrepreneurship, the Council of Ministers, energy and natural resources, civil service, innovation bodies, academia and the private sector.
Digital Agenda 2030 — AI measures
- AI and emerging-technology education in schools and higher education.
- Gradual introduction of AI into government services — reduce effort and time, improve transparency and integrity.
- Palestinian research fund for modern technologies and AI — health and education focus.
Data protection and public trust
- Need to adopt a personal-data protection law and a right-to-information law.
- Protection of digital data of individuals and institutions.
- Targets for AI-related qualifications and research support.
Sensitive sectors to monitor
- Public services, healthcare, education, transport, financial services and government decision-making.
Sectoral overlays
- Data protection (once adopted), cybersecurity, telecoms, consumer protection, financial regulation, healthcare, education, public-sector procurement, employment, intellectual property and criminal law.
Penalties
- There is no AI-specific penalty table equivalent to the EU AI Act.
- Penalties depend on the underlying law breached — typically data protection, cybersecurity, consumer protection, sectoral licensing, public procurement, intellectual property or criminal law.
- AI compliance therefore depends on the sector and the legal effect of the system, not on a standalone AI statute.