AI regulation in Cuba: laws & policy (2026)

Legal framework

Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (Estrategia para el Desarrollo de la Inteligencia Artificial), adopted May 2024 by the Council of Ministers, led by the Ministry of Communications (MINCOM)

Key points: artificial intelligence in Cuba

1. 01National AI Strategy (2024)

   Cuba's Council of Ministers formally adopted the Estrategia para el Desarrollo de la Inteligencia Artificial in May 2024 as a component of the national Digital Transformation Policy and Digital Agenda. MINCOM leads coordination, evaluation of socioeconomic impacts, and risk management across sectors.

   oecd.ai media.cubadebate.cu

2. 02Six Strategic Axes

   The strategy is organised around: (1) ethics and legal framework; (2) human capital; (3) applications and services; (4) public administration; (5) science and innovation; and (6) social communication. Priority application sectors include health, education, agriculture, transport, and water supply.

   oecd.ai en.granma.cu

3. 03No Binding AI Legislation

   UNESCO's AI Ethics and Governance Observatory country assessment confirms Cuba 'currently lacks specific AI legislation.' The strategy is a policy framework, not a statute with enforcement mechanisms; the ethics and regulatory axis signals intent to develop norms rather than establishing them.

   unesco.org unesco.org

4. 04Personal Data Protection Law (Law 149/2022)

   Cuba enacted Law No. 149/2022 on Personal Data Protection, published in the Official Gazette on 25 August 2022 and entering into force in February 2023. It embodies consent and data-minimisation principles relevant to AI data pipelines but is not AI-specific legislation.

   cuba.vlex.com caseguard.com

5. 05AI Consortium and International Alignment

   In November 2025 Cuba launched a national AI Consortium coordinated by the Havana Scientific and Technological Park to pool institutional capacity across health, education, and transport. Cuba also joined the BRICS AI Alliance Network, with the University of Computer Sciences and the Havana Science Park as member entities.

   en.cibercuba.com plenglish.com

6. 06UNESCO Engagement and Ethical Roadmap

   In February 2025, UNESCO and MINCOM co-hosted a national workshop in Havana on 'Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Equity, Rights, Inclusion.' UNESCO's Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) was applied to Cuba and recommended establishing multi-stakeholder governance and updating existing laws to align with ethical AI and human-rights standards.

   unesco.org unesco.org

Timeline of decisions

1. 1 Mar 2026Guidance · official
   Cuba's AI Strategy Earns Regional Recognition; Presented as Sovereign AI Model

   Cuba's national AI strategy is praised by Mexico and other partners at regional forums as a model of sovereign, human-centered AI development; Radio Angulo characterises it as 'technology at the service of humanity,' cementing Cuba's diplomatic positioning on AI.

   Radio Angulo (Cuban state media)

2. 7 Feb 2025Guidance · official
   UNESCO–MINCOM National Workshop on AI Ethics Held in Havana

   Cuba's Ministry of Communications (MINCOM) and UNESCO co-hosted a workshop presenting results of the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and introducing the Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA) tool; the event signalled Cuba's formal alignment with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI adopted in 2021.

   UNESCO

3. 31 Dec 2024Guidance
   President Díaz-Canel Issues Public Directive to Apply AI to National Problems

   At year-end, President Díaz-Canel publicly called on Cuban institutions to deploy AI to address pressing socioeconomic challenges, marking a shift from strategy formulation to implementation and elevating AI as a top executive priority.

   CiberCuba

4. 1 Jan 2024Law · official
   Council of Ministers Formally Adopts National AI Strategy and Cuban Digital Agenda 2030

   Cuba's Council of Ministers approved the Strategy for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence as part of the broader Digital Transformation Policy and Cuban Digital Agenda 2030; the strategy is structured around six dimensions—ethics and regulatory framework, human capital, applications and services, public administration, science and innovation, and social communication—with MINCOM as the lead governing body.

   OECD.AI Policy Observatory

5. 14 Feb 2023Guidance · official
   Cuba Publicly Announces Development of a National AI Strategy

   Granma (official Communist Party newspaper) reported that President Díaz-Canel and MINCOM had announced work toward a formal national AI strategy; this public declaration launched the strategy drafting process and framed AI as central to Cuba's development model.

   Granma (official PCC newspaper)

Sources

1. 1.oecd.ai/en/dashboards/policy-initiatives/strategy-for-the-development-of-arti
2. 2.media.cubadebate.cu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Politica_de_Transformacion_Digital_de_Cuba
3. 3.unesco.org/ethics-ai/en/cuba
4. 4.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-holds-workshop-ai-ethics-cuba
5. 5.cuba.vlex.com/vid/ley-no-149-2022-909388461
6. 6.en.granma.cu/cuba/2023-02-14/cuba-towards-a-strategy-for-the-development-of-artifi
7. 7.en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-11-30-u1-e209363-s27061-nid315763-nace-consorcio-inteli
8. 8.presidencia.gob.cu/es/noticias/cuba-tiene-potencialidades-para-estar-en-la-avanzada-de-l
9. 9.caseguard.com/articles/cuba-passes-new-comprehensive-data-privacy-law/
10. 10.plenglish.com/news/2026/03/01/mexico-cubas-ai-strategy-value-praised/