Today ItaCham (Sec. Gen. Haseeb Daudani) participated on invitation to the the UNESCO’s AI Ethics Readiness Assessment in Cambodia at the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT). The summary of the workshop can be found below.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The government recognizes UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI but has not yet taken official steps to implement it. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) is exploring an AI strategy, but specific sectors for AI regulation have not yet been prioritized. AI systems have not been implemented in public services, and there are no laws requiring disclosure of AI usage.
MPTC and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) are the main entities responsible for AI governance in Cambodia. However, major challenges include a lack of AI expertise, insufficient infrastructure, and difficulties in inter-ministerial coordination. There are also concerns about AI literacy, data privacy, and ethical issues such as bias and fairness. Key sectors like healthcare and agriculture struggle to adopt AI, and public awareness of AI remains limited. Additionally, Cambodia faces challenges in promoting international collaborations and integrating AI ethics into its governance framework.
LEGAL ASPECTS
Cambodia does not have a national AI strategy but has developed fundamental policies and regulations for its development, including the Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035 and the Digital Government Policy 2022-2035. These policies promote AI adoption in public services and identify the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC) as the primary regulatory body. The 2015 Telecommunications Law protects data privacy, while the Competition Law and E-Commerce Law are relevant to AI but do not directly address specific applications. The Personal Data Protection Law, currently under consultation, is modeled on the EU’s GDPR and grants citizens rights such as data access and deletion.
Also, currently the MPTC is preparing national ethical guidelines for AI usage. The Cybersecurity Law, under review, aims to strengthen security and protect critical infrastructure, creating a safer environment for AI. The Data Protection Law also includes transparency requirements, obligating companies to inform users about data processing and conduct privacy impact assessments when data poses risks to individual rights.
Current laws protect sensitive information, such as health data, requiring written consent for processing it but currently no compensation systems exist for violations, even if, administrative and criminal penalties are in place already. Privacy and private life are safeguarded by the Cambodian Constitution and other regulations. The data protection system will be managed by MPTC, with a supervisory body expected to be established by law.
Furthermore, Cambodia has not signed the International Open Data Charter but is promoting open data principles through initiatives such as the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDX) and the upcoming Data Governance Policy. The Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 emphasizes data governance and public data sharing.
There are no specific laws for AI procurement, but the Draft Cloud First Policy includes cloud services that may cover AI solutions. Cambodia is developing a Freedom of Information Law. Also, no specific framework exists for managing harmful online content, but measures against disinformation are already in place. AI regulation for social media is still under discussion.
Cambodia is actively promoting digital skills in the public sector through policies and institutional initiatives. The Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework and the Digital Government Policy aim to develop digital competencies among public officials. The Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) offers courses on topics like data management and cybersecurity, while the Skill Development Fund (SDF) supports continuous training, particularly in ICT. Additionally, the Digital Skills Development Roadmap 2024-2035 guides the country in expanding digital literacy through mandatory training for new public employees, covering government software use and cybersecurity awareness.
In the environmental field, no specific AI and sustainability policies exist, but the country has joined international initiatives on AI ethics, signaling a growing awareness of its potential impacts. In healthcare, Cambodia is developing a digital strategy that could include AI to improve system efficiency.
Finally, while there are no concrete policies on AI use for cultural heritage preservation or indigenous languages, there is growing interest in these topics, which may be addressed in the future. Overall, while progress has been made, significant challenges remain related to inequality and the lack of unified policies.
SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS & RESEARCH
Cambodia is making progress in research and innovation, though spending on research and development (R&D) remains limited, at 0.12% of GDP in 2015. In 2022, $96 million was allocated to public sector R&D programs, but there are no specific estimates for AI. AI-related publications are scarce, with only 406 articles, and research on AI ethics is almost nonexistent.
In the education sector, Cambodia has no specific laws to integrate AI into the school system or to train teachers on technology ethics. Internet access in schools is limited, with only 28.31% of secondary schools having access. Computer access is also low, with only 25.39% of secondary schools using computers for educational purposes. Despite this, some universities offer AI courses, but ethical aspects are not yet formalized.
Higher education institutions are seeing increasing interest in ICT sectors, with about 10% of students enrolling in ICT programs. However, access to AI courses for the general public is limited, with no technical courses or ethics modules available. In general, Cambodia is making progress, but significant challenges remain in integrating AI into education and research.
ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS
Cambodia is still in an early stage regarding AI integration into its economic and technological landscape. Currently, only two companies are registered in the AI sector, including one startup, highlighting limited business participation. Despite this, the government has launched initiatives to promote digitalization, such as the Digital Government Policy 2022-2035, which includes objectives related to cloud computing and e-governance, relevant for AI adoption.
Regarding human resources, no concrete data exists on AI-related jobs or the spread of AI expertise. Furthermore, no specific policies have been developed to address AI’s impact on the job market, such as worker retraining or leveraging human skills complementary to automation. In the absence of targeted strategies, the country has yet to establish specialized training programs, despite the growing demand for technological skills.
Access to basic technologies, such as internet and mobile telephony, is expanding, with 56.7% of the population using the internet and increasing mobile broadband penetration. However, fixed broadband penetration and data center availability remain limited, indicating that, despite progress, the necessary infrastructure for widespread AI adoption is still in development.
In summary, Cambodia is making significant progress in digitalization, but considerable challenges remain regarding training, AI technology adoption, and strategic policies to address labor market transformations.
