General profile Digital profile

Iceland

Digital snapshot – key policies and laws

Iceland’s most distinctive digital governance issue is the geographical resilience of its international connectivity. As an island state, it relies heavily on submarine cables for global data traffic; the state-owned operator Farice runs FARICE-1, DANICE and ÍRIS, and in 2026 announced Auður Auður, a new Iceland–Scotland cable intended to strengthen international connectivity.

Iceland is also a highly advanced digital-government state. The Digital Iceland programme and Ísland.is provide common public-service infrastructure, while eID use is widespread: by the end of 2022, more than 95% of people aged 13 and older with an Icelandic social security number had an eID. From 2025, all public institutions at the state and local level are expected to use the digital inbox for communications, making the national portal a core administrative channel rather than only a service website.

The North Star of internet freedom

Iceland is one of the world’s strongest environments for internet freedom, combining near-universal connectivity with robust protections for expression and privacy. Its high ranking reflects a broader democratic culture in which users can access diverse information and participate online with few state-imposed barriers. Yet this openness increasingly depends on resilience: recent cyberattacks against government and media websites show that digital rights are not protected by law alone, but also by secure infrastructure.

Iceland’s policy framework is closely aligned with the EU digital regulation through the EEA (European Economic Area). Its current instruments include the Digital Strategy for Public Services, the Cloud Policy of the Icelandic Public Sector, the Icelandic National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022–2037, the Data Security Classification framework, Act No. 90/2018 on data protection and GDPR implementation, and Act No. 30/2002 on electronic commerce and other electronic services.

Iceland’s 2021 AI policy emphasises an ethical basis for AI development and awareness of security challenges, while the AI Action Plan 2025–2027 aims to create a clearer legal framework, protect fundamental rights and build public trust. The country’s AI agenda is also shaped by language policy. For a small-language society, Icelandic language technology is central to keeping public services, education, media and future AI tools accessible in Icelandic.

Regarding cloud and emerging technologies, the public-sector cloud policy promotes coordinated cloud use, security, better services and innovation through tools such as AI, automation and data analysis. Iceland’s renewable energy, cool climate and submarine links also support data-centre and high-performance computing activity, but these opportunities come with governance questions around energy allocation, vendor dependence, cybersecurity, data protection and inclusion.

Iceland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva:

Iceland’s Permanent Mission in Geneva opened on 1 March 1970, linked to Iceland’s accession to EFTA. It represents Iceland in Geneva-based multilateral settings, including the UN Office and agencies, WTO, EFTA, and other international organisations. Since 2018, it has also served as Iceland’s Embassy to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with the Holy See added in 2022. The current government listing identifies it as the Permanent Mission of Iceland to the International Organisations in Geneva, with Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson listed as head of mission.

Official UNOG website: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/blue-book/missions/member-states/iceland

EMBASSY AND PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UN – GENEVA

Twitter/X profile: https://x.com/IcelandinGeneva

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Consult Iceland’s digital strategies and regulations

Here you can explore the country’s main digital strategies, laws, and regulations by simply asking the chatbot, which is designed to help you quickly find relevant documents and understand the country’s digital policy landscape.