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AI regulation in Vanuatu: laws & policy (2026)

AI in Vanuatu: guidelines only.

Vanuatu has no comprehensive or sectoral AI law as of 2026. AI and machine learning are referenced only as ethical/aspirational principles within the national ICT policy and broader digital-transformation legislation, while the country has taken active international positions on the military use of AI (autonomous weapons). Regulation remains at the policy/principles stage rather than binding AI-specific rules.

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Legal framework

No AI-specific law. AI is addressed only at a high level through Vanuatu's National ICT Policy (ethical principles) and broader digital-governance instruments such as the Digital Transformation Act 2025, administered by the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation.

Key points: artificial intelligence in Vanuatu

  1. No dedicated AI law

    Vanuatu has not enacted any standalone artificial-intelligence statute. AI governance exists only as principles within wider ICT and digital-economy policy, not as binding AI-specific regulation.

    digital.gov.vu

  2. National ICT Policy

    Vanuatu's National ICT Policy frames the government's approach to ICT including AI and machine learning, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines in the development and deployment of AI technologies, under the national vision of 'A Just, Educated, Healthy and Wealthy Vanuatu.'

    digital.gov.vu dig.watch

  3. Digital Transformation Act 2025

    Parliament passed the Digital Transformation Act in 2025 to modernize public service delivery, ICT governance, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and the digital economy, and to empower the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation. It is a broad digital-governance instrument rather than an AI-specific regulatory regime.

    parliament.gov.vu digital.gov.vu

  4. Stakeholder consultation underway

    Vanuatu's digital legal framework, including AI-relevant provisions and a planned data-protection regime, is being developed through draft documents open to public/stakeholder consultation rather than finalized binding rules.

    digital.gov.vu

  5. International position on military AI

    At the 80th UNGA First Committee (October 2025) Vanuatu stated that autonomous weapons systems, AI and cyber capabilities raise serious ethical and humanitarian concerns and must be governed by international law and human oversight; it co-sponsored and supported the UNGA resolution on lethal autonomous weapons systems.

    automatedresearch.org press.un.org

  6. No risk-based AI binding rules

    Policy discussion references risk-based frameworks, transparency and accountability for AI, but these remain non-binding aspirational principles; there is no enforceable AI risk classification, AI authority, or prohibited-use list in force.

    digital.gov.vu

Sources

  1. digital.gov.vu/images/policies/Vanuatu-National-ICT-Policy-EN.pdf
  2. parliament.gov.vu/images/Bills/Second%20Ordinary%20session%202025/Bill%20for%20the%20Di
  3. digital.gov.vu/images/Docs/legislation/Bill_for_the_Digital_Transformation_Act_No_of
  4. digital.gov.vu/images/Docs/NIDC/National_ICT_Policy_-_Consultation_Document_-_draft_
  5. dig.watch/resource/the-national-information-and-communication-technology-ict-po
  6. automatedresearch.org/news/state_position/vanuatu/
  7. press.un.org/en/2025/ga12736.doc.htm

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026