Detailed overview
Tunisia does not currently have a comprehensive AI Act equivalent to the EU AI Act. Its AI framework is based on digital transformation policy, AI strategy work, open data, public-sector AI use cases, procurement and innovation policy, data protection and sector-specific regulation.
Tunisia's national digital policy treats artificial intelligence as part of the country's advanced technology and startup ecosystem. Official Ministry of Communication Technologies materials identify the development of startups in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data and business intelligence, as part of the national digital-development direction. The same materials refer to digital infrastructure, foreign investment, digital public services, secure cyberspace and the need to modernise the legal and regulatory framework for the digital ecosystem.
Tunisia has also been identified in official international policy repositories as having an AI roadmap. The OECD AI Policy Navigator lists a Tunisia AI Roadmap starting in 2021, together with related AI policy initiatives on public-sector AI use cases, open data, public procurement for innovation and intellectual-property treatment for AI.
Tunisia's AI governance is therefore strategy-led rather than statute-led. There is no general AI licence, no statutory high-risk AI conformity-assessment regime and no single AI-specific penalty table. AI compliance depends on the applicable legal area.
AI systems in Tunisia may trigger requirements under personal-data protection, cybersecurity, electronic communications, consumer protection, financial regulation, healthcare regulation, employment law, public procurement, intellectual property and criminal law. AI used by public authorities, banks, telecoms providers, health providers, employers or digital platforms should be assessed under both sectoral law and the broader digital-transformation framework.
Practical requirements & details
Sourced from the official Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies digital-policy materials and the OECD AI Policy Navigator listing of the Tunisia AI Roadmap (from 2021).
National digital policy — AI
- Development of startups in advanced technologies — AI, big data, business intelligence.
- Part of the national digital-development direction.
- Covers digital infrastructure, foreign investment, digital public services, secure cyberspace.
- Need to modernise the legal and regulatory framework for the digital ecosystem.
Tunisia AI Roadmap (OECD AI Policy Navigator)
- Starting 2021.
- Related AI policy initiatives on:
- public-sector AI use cases;
- open data;
- public procurement for innovation;
- intellectual-property treatment for AI.
Regulatory posture
- AI governance is strategy-led, not statute-led.
- No general AI licence.
- No statutory high-risk AI conformity-assessment regime.
Sectoral overlays
- Personal-data protection, cybersecurity, electronic communications, consumer protection, financial regulation, healthcare regulation, employment law, public procurement, intellectual property and criminal law.
High-priority deployers
- Public authorities, banks, telecoms providers, health providers, employers and digital platforms — assess under both sectoral law and the broader digital-transformation framework.
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.