Countries

Kuwait

Digital Snapshot – Key Policies and Laws

Kuwait’s digital policy agenda sits under Kuwait Vision 2035 and is implemented mainly through CAIT (digital government delivery) and CITRA (telecom/ICT regulation and core digital frameworks). On international indicators, the UN’s E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2024 ranks Kuwait 66/193 (EGDI 0.7812), while its Telecommunication Infrastructure Index component is very high (0.99883), suggesting strong connectivity despite middling overall e-government outcomes.

In terms of service delivery, Kuwait relies on the Kuwait Government Online (KGO) ecosystem as the public ‘front door’ and aggregation layer. According to KGO, the Sahel mobile app is the official e-government application that provides unified access to services and notifications. Identity and trust are supported by Kuwait Mobile ID, which enables authentication and a digital signature for transactions and services.

Cybersecurity policy is anchored by Kuwait’s published National Cyber Security Strategy, hosted by CITRA, and CITRA’s ongoing cybersecurity and emergency response guidance and controls. Data protection is comparatively more sectoral: widely used references note the absence of a single omnibus privacy law and point instead to multiple instruments. In practice, CITRA’s Data Privacy Protection Regulation is a key compliance baseline for licensed telecom/ICT providers, and it has been updated via Resolution 26/2024.

Cloud governance is comparatively well-specified: CITRA’s Cloud Computing Regulatory Framework is designed to regulate cloud use in Kuwait and is supported by linked policies such as Data Classification and a Cloud First Policy for the public sector. Regarding AI, Kuwait has a publicly available draft of its National AI Strategy (2025–2028), and CAIT has described the procedure with Microsoft to prepare it. Separately, Microsoft has announced its intent to establish an AI-powered Azure Region in Kuwait as part of a strategic partnership with the Government of Kuwait.

Microsoft and Kuwait’s cloud ‘region’ of interest

In March 2025, Microsoft had signed a strategic partnership with the Government of Kuwait, represented by CAIT and CITRA, and announced an intent to establish an ‘AI-powered Azure Region‘ in Kuwait. A local hyperscale region can be significant for digital governance because it may reshape public-sector cloud procurement, create new expectations around data residency and latency, and increase demand for clearer rules on security, auditability, and cross-border data flows, especially where regulated or sensitive datasets are involved. The announcement also positioned the initiative as aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035, which suggests it may be used as a lever for broader government modernisation and skills-building, not just infrastructure. At the same time, ‘intent’ language signals that timelines, scope, and governance safeguards will ultimately be defined through implementation decisions (standards, contracts, oversight) rather than the announcement itself.

In the digital economy, Kuwait has been moving toward a more explicit e-commerce framework. The Cabinet approved a draft law regulating digital commerce that establishes trust and market rules for online commerce. Payments are governed by the Central Bank of Kuwait, which states that it has issued updated Instructions for Regulating the Electronic Payment of Funds under the umbrella of the Electronic Transactions Law.

On ‘hard’ digital infrastructure, Kuwait is pursuing major upgrades through a PPP-style project to develop a fixed communications network, led by the Ministry of Communications and the PPP authority. In mobile networks, CITRA announced the launch of 5G Advanced. For traffic localisation, ix.kw operates as a carrier-neutral, not-for-profit internet exchange point in Kuwait. International connectivity is being expanded through submarine infrastructure, such as FIG (Fibre in Gulf), for which CITRA announced it has awarded a license to land the cable.

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Kuwait’s permanent mission to the UN:

Kuwait’s Permanent Mission in Geneva represents the State of Kuwait to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organisations, and supports Kuwait’s participation in Geneva-based multilateral processes. The UN Geneva ‘Blue Book’ lists the mission at Avenue de l’Ariana 2, 1202 Geneva, with official contact details and the mission website kuwaitmission.ch.

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/KuwaitUNGeneva

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South Korea

Digital Snapshot – Key Policies and Laws

South Korea sits near the top of the global digital government rankings. In the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), it ranks 4th of 193 (EGDI 0.9679), and its Online Service Index is at the ceiling (1.000). The government’s service delivery model emphasises integrated portals and inter-agency operability. Government24, as described by MOIS, is an integrated civil service platform covering approximately 12,000 services, with about 1,300 available for application through cross-agency collaboration.

At the strategy level, the administration’s cross-cutting roadmap is the Digital Strategy of Korea, presented as a pan-government plan spanning digital capability-building, digital economy expansion, inclusion, and ‘platform government’ approaches. Connectivity policy remains a pillar of that posture: MSIT’s K-Network 2030 Strategy frames Korea’s push to remain a leader in next-generation networks, including pathways beyond 5G.

On AI governance, Korea has moved from ‘soft law’ ethics and sector guidance toward a comprehensive framework law. MSIT reports the National Assembly passed the AI Basic Act on 26 December 2024, with the law designed to take effect in January 2026. An early 2026 legal analysis describes the Act as taking effect, with detailed compliance expectations shaped via enforcement decrees and responsible authorities, positioning it as a relevant pillar for AI transparency/safety obligations and governance structures.

Korea’s AI Basic Act meets the chip‘n’cloud stack

South Korea’s AI Basic Act took effect on 26 January 2026, setting a country-wide framework for how AI is developed and used across the economy, with the most detailed requirements to be defined through enforcement decrees rather than left to voluntary guidance alone. It is often described as combining ‘promotion’ with ‘trust’: it points toward transparency duties, including expectations around identifying AI-generated outputs, and governance measures for higher-risk uses, such as responsibilities tied to ‘high-impact AI’ systems. Instead of regulating only one sector, the AI Basic Act aims to set baseline rules that can be applied consistently while still allowing specific regulators and ministries to translate them into concrete, technical obligations.

+ The ‘Stargate’ initiative =

The country’s AI governance and digital ambitions are underpinned by a semiconductor sector that is treated as strategic national infrastructure, not just an export industry. In late 2025, OpenAI announced partnerships with Samsung and SK under its ‘Stargate’ initiative, explicitly tying Korea’s strengths in semiconductors, data centers and infrastructure to the global build-out of AI capacity. In parallel, the government has promoted a long-horizon plan for a ‘semiconductor mega cluster’ with headline investment figures in the hundreds of trillions of won, an industrial policy signal that compute, chips, and energy-intensive infrastructure are being treated as strategic national assets. Together, these moves show Korea trying to do two things at once: set rules for trustworthy AI at home while remaining indispensable to the hardware and infrastructure that make AI possible globally.

For data governance, Korea combines an open-data mandate with strong privacy oversight. The Act on Promotion of the Provision and Use of Public Data establishes the legal basis for public-sector data provision and reuse. Operationally, the Open Data Portal points to Article 21 as the basis for the national portal’s establishment, reflecting a centralised ‘one place to publish’ model for datasets and APIs.

On data protection, the centre of gravity is the PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act) under the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). PIPC states that the amended PIPA and its Enforcement Decree entered into force on 15 September 2023, following a major overhaul passed in March 2023, a reform wave that also explicitly links to initiatives such as data portability (‘MyData’). The policy package is reinforced by active enforcement and frequent policy updates, making privacy a core constraint on digital government and AI deployment.

Korea’s current top-level document on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure resilience is the National Cybersecurity Strategy, published as an official strategy text. In cloud governance, a distinctive feature is the public-sector assurance gate: CSAP (Cloud Security Assurance Program), described by AWS and policy analysis as a Korean government-backed certification administered by KISA, which shapes which cloud services can serve public institutions and how. International connectivity and physical backbone resilience also matter: industry inventories and mapping resources identify Busan as a key submarine-cable landing hub for Korea.

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South Korea’s permanent mission to the UN:

South Korea’s Permanent Mission in Geneva represents the Republic of Korea at UN Geneva (UNOG) and other Geneva-based international bodies, coordinating Korea’s participation across major multilateral tracks, including humanitarian and human rights-related work. The mission describes its engagement with Geneva’s humanitarian architecture (e.g. UNHCR, IOM, ICRC/IFRC, OCHA) and its role in advancing multilateral cooperation while contributing to Korea’s priorities across UN and international organisation agendas.

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

South Korea’s MOFA official website: https://geneva.mofa.go.kr/ch-geneva-en/index.do

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unkoreamissiongeneva/

South Korea’s AI and digital strategies and regulations

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Kenya

Kenya stands out in Africa for the depth of its connectivity and infrastructure. According to Digital 2024: Kenya, the country had 22.7 million internet users in early 2024 (40.8% penetration) and 66 million mobile connections (118.7% of the population), placing it well above the regional average for mobile access. Internationally, Kenya is linked by at least six submarine fibre systems, with the PEACE cable landing in 2022 as the sixth undersea cable, reinforcing Mombasa’s role as a regional gateway.

On the services side, Kenya is the third-largest e-commerce market in Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria, with online revenues projected to reach approximately US$900 million by 2024 and user penetration exceeding the continental average. The National E-Commerce Strategy 2023 notes that Kenya is among the continent’s leaders in e-commerce and that the digital economy already contributes about 7.7% of GDP, one of the highest shares in Africa. In digital finance, mobile money penetration reached 91% by June 2025, making Kenya a global reference point for inclusive digital payments.

Such a performance is anchored in a relatively advanced policy framework. The Kenya National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032 sets long-term goals around digital infrastructure, services, skills and innovation. It is complemented by the dedicated Kenya Cloud Policy 2024, which adopts a cloud-first and data-sovereignty approach, and by the National E-Commerce Strategy 2023. Kenya has also adopted a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030, aiming to position the country as a leading AI hub in Africa, placing it among a small group of African states with a comprehensive national AI plan.

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Liberia

Liberia remains a low‑penetration digital market, with only about 32 % internet users as of early 2025—placing it among the lowest in West Africa for connectivity. Mobile subscriptions are much higher—87 % connectivity relative to population—reflecting a strong mobile network reach through operators like Lonestar (MTN) and Orange that drove cellular coverage across urban and rural zones.

Despite its low connectivity, Liberia stands out regionally in a few areas: according to the Internet Society’s Pulse Resilience Index, Liberia ranks third in West Africa for Internet security resilience—evaluated by adoption of best practices and technologies to resist network disruptions. In broader governance metrics, the IIAG Global Index places Liberia among the top ten in Africa for ‘Rural Market Access,’ scoring 94.4, indicating especially strong connectivity and infrastructure access in rural zones relative to other low‑income countries.

Lastly, Liberia has demonstrated steady digital development progress: it scores above the continental average on 44 of 96 governance and infrastructure indicators, improving in 53 indicators between 2014–2023—including public administration, education, business environment, and ICT infrastructure foundations—reflecting steady governance reform and capacity development.

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North Korea

North Korea’s digital landscape is marked by surprisingly high adoption of mobile and intranet technologies, given its isolation. As of early 2025, mobile connections reached about 29.6 percent of the population, a relatively notable penetration rate in context. The country operates a uniquely extensive closed intranet system—Kwangmyong, hosting an estimated 1,000 to 5,500 internal websites and supporting services like email, internal search, e‑books, e‑commerce, video streaming, scientific resources, and multilingual dictionaries  The Pyongyang Sci‑Tech Complex, with around 3,000 computer terminals providing access to these internal digital services, serves as a major institutional hub.

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Ethiopia

Ethiopia is undergoing a significant digital transformation, guided by the ‘Digital Ethiopia 2025’ strategy. This comprehensive plan aims to build a digitally empowered society by enhancing infrastructure, promoting innovation, and integrating digital technologies across various sectors.

The country’s digital infrastructure has expanded notably, with Ethio Telecom extending its fiber-optic network to over 23,000 kilometers, providing mobile coverage to 85% of the population. The liberalization of the telecommunications sector has introduced competition, exemplified by Safaricom Ethiopia’s entry into the market. Additionally, investments in data centers, such as those by the Raxio Group, are bolstering the nation’s digital capacity.

Emerging technologies are increasingly integrated into Ethiopia’s development agenda. The government approved its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in June 2024, focusing on sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and education .

To support this digital evolution, Ethiopia enacted the Personal Data Protection Proclamation No. 1321/2024, providing a comprehensive legal framework for data governance. The Ethiopian Communications Authority oversees the implementation of this law, ensuring data privacy and security.

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Vatican

In the late 1990s, the Vatican established the “Internet Office of the Holy See,” integrating Vatican City State into the global internet network. This initiative led to the acquisition of the “.va” domain, the development of electronic mail services, and the launch of the official portal, www.vatican.va. Over time, the Vatican’s internet services have expanded, ensuring robust connectivity through collaborations with international operators and internet exchange points. A notable component is the Security Operation Centre, which is dedicated to safeguarding against cyber threats.

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Lebanon

Lebanon’s digital profile features relatively high internet and smartphone penetration for its income level. Most people are online, social-media use is very intense, and several international submarine cables (such as IMEWE and CADMOS) give the country solid international bandwidth, even though domestic infrastructure and electricity remain fragile.

In digital skills and research, Lebanon performs well in the Arab region. Universities like AUB, LAU and USJ produce substantial AI- and data-related studies and a steady stream of tech-literate graduates who feed both the local market and the diaspora.

Lebanon also stands out in certain aspects of the digital economy and payments sector. Many SMEs sell their products via social networks and local platforms, and a dense ecosystem of licensed money-transfer and digital-wallet providers serves users both domestically and internationally. Central bank regulation of electronic payments and partial alignment with GDPR-style principles have made Lebanon a regional reference point for remittance-driven mobile and digital payments despite ongoing macroeconomic stress.

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Lesotho

Lesotho’s digital backbone is modest but well-structured for a landlocked state. The country has operated a national internet exchange in Maseru since 2011 (LIXP), created with the Internet Society and the regulator, which helps keep local traffic local and lowers latency to nearby cloud and content hubs. International capacity is reached via cross-border fibre into South Africa to access regional submarine cables such as EASSy; there are no domestic cable landings.

On mobile access, Lesotho was an early African pioneer of standards-based 5G, with Vodacom launching a commercial fixed-wireless 5G service on 3.5 GHz for enterprise users in 2018—among the continent’s first real deployments. This sits alongside nationwide 4G and steady use of mobile networks as the primary broadband path.

From a governance standpoint, Lesotho has a comparatively early data-protection law for the region: the Data Protection Act, 2012, establishes principles, a supervisory commission, and rules for cross-border transfers. More recently, the government adopted a National Digital Policy 2024–2035 and a National Digital Transformation Strategy 2024–2030, which set whole-of-government priorities for connectivity and online services.

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