The 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) was held from 16 to 17 January 2025, during which three essential guides pertaining to data protection and artificial intelligence (“AI“) were unveiled:
- ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation
This guide is targeted at policy makers, regulators and industry organisations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (“ASEAN“). It seeks to provide information and guidance on basic data anonymisation concepts and techniques, and covers the following areas:
- the benefits of anonymisation and the data protection landscape in ASEAN;
- key concepts and terminology in data anonymisation and typical scenarios for anonymisation; and
- an overview of anonymisation techniques and key anonymisation steps that can be adopted as part of the anonymisation process.
- Joint Mapping Guide on ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses (“MCCs”) and Ibero-American Data Protection Network (“RIPD”) MCCs
This guide seeks to benefit organisations looking to transfer or receive personal data from overseas partners, providing a comparison between the ASEAN MCCs and the RIPD MCCs. Companies familiar with the ASEAN MCCs can use this guide as a reference in their negotiations on data transfers with RIPD business partners.
- Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics – Generative AI
In February 2024, the ASEAN member states issued the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (“ASEAN AI Guide 2024“), which establishes common principles and recommends best practices on the implementation of trustworthy AI in ASEAN. Standing as a landmark regional guide on AI policy, it seeks to help promote consumer confidence and facilitate cross-border deployment of AI services and solutions. For more information, please see our March 2024 Legal Update titled “ASEAN Issues Guide on AI Governance and Ethics“.
The ASEAN AI Guide 2024 has now been updated with the release of the Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics – Gen AI (“Gen AI Guide“). The Gen AI Guide supplements and supports the ASEAN AI Guide 2024 with policy considerations related to generative AI (“Gen AI“). It highlights the opportunities and risks unique to Gen AI, and recommends a range of policy actions for ASEAN to support its responsible adoption. For more information, please see our March 2024 Legal Update titled “Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics“.
Click on the following links for more information:
- Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC“) Press Release titled “Three Guides Unveiled at ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) 2025” (available on the PDPC website at pdpc .gov.sg)
Available on the ASEAN website at asean.org:
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