Iraq - National AI Strategy

Overview

Iraq's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (INSAIN) is an emerging national framework being developed to guide the country's AI development and adoption. The strategy was formally reviewed at the first meeting of the Supreme Committee for Artificial Intelligence in August 2024, chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The initiative represents Iraq's recognition of AI as critical for economic diversification beyond oil dependency. A dedicated website is under development to support INSAIN implementation. Despite the strategy's ambitious goals, Iraq currently lacks formal AI regulations and faces significant challenges with weak governance frameworks and underdeveloped digital infrastructure, prompting government officials and NGOs to call for comprehensive AI legislation.

Definitions

The INSAIN framework operates within Iraq's emerging AI terminology. Artificial Intelligence encompasses computational systems capable of autonomous learning and decision-making applicable across government and economic sectors. INSAIN refers to the Iraqi National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence being developed by the Prime Minister's Office. Supreme Committee for Artificial Intelligence is the highest-level governmental body overseeing AI strategy, chaired by the Prime Minister. Smart Applications describes AI-enabled government services and ministry applications targeted for implementation. Digital Leaders refers to the workforce being trained under national AI capacity-building programs. Big Data is included in the strategy's scope for maximizing citizen benefits from data-driven governance.

Governance and Institutional Framework

The governance structure centers on the Supreme Committee for Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and including key cabinet ministers. The Iraqi Artificial Intelligence Group operates under the Prime Minister's Office, coordinating strategy development across multiple ministries. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research leads educational AI initiatives, including establishing the College of Excellence and College of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Baghdad. The Ministry of Communications is drafting AI-specific legislation incorporating UN principles on human dignity and ethics. The strategy involves cross-ministerial implementation for smart applications, with each ministry responsible for AI integration in its sector. UNESCO provides international technical support for AI ethics training.

Key Focus Areas

• Economic Diversification: Using AI to transform Iraq's economy beyond oil dependency through technology-driven innovation.
• Education Integration: Embedding AI in the education system through new AI colleges and curriculum development.
• Smart Government Applications: Implementing AI-enabled services across government ministries and public services.
• Cybersecurity: Learning from global advancements in cybersecurity to protect national digital infrastructure.
• AI Ethics Regulation: Developing ethical frameworks aligned with UN principles on human dignity.
• Youth Protection: Protecting Iraqi youth from exploitation by criminal and extremist groups through AI awareness programs.
• Digital Workforce Development: Training 100 digital leaders in AI and establishing AI clubs for capacity building.
• Big Data Utilization: Maximizing benefits of big data for citizen services and governance.
• Academic Research: Strengthening AI research capabilities in Iraqi universities.
• International Cooperation: Engaging with international partners including UNESCO for knowledge transfer and training.

Implementation Framework

Implementation of INSAIN follows a multi-track approach coordinated by the Prime Minister's Office. The strategy development involves the Iraqi Artificial Intelligence Group working with multiple ministries to establish sector-specific AI applications. The Supreme Committee for AI provides high-level direction and reviews key projects during periodic meetings. Educational implementation is led by the Ministry of Higher Education, with the College of Excellence and College of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Baghdad scheduled to open for the 2025-2026 academic year, with a deadline of August 20, 2025 to finalize logistical and staffing requirements. The workforce development track includes training 100 digital leaders in AI announced in November 2024. The draft AI legislation being prepared by the Ministry of Communications will provide the legal foundation for enforcement and compliance. The INSAIN website under development will serve as the central implementation platform. International cooperation, particularly with UNESCO for AI ethics training, provides capacity building support.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring responsibility rests with the Supreme Committee for Artificial Intelligence, which reviews implementation progress during its meetings. The Prime Minister's Office coordinates tracking of AI projects and applications across ministries. The Iraqi Artificial Intelligence Group monitors strategy development milestones and INSAIN website deployment. The Ministry of Higher Education tracks educational initiatives including the new AI colleges' establishment and the 100 digital leaders training program. International partners, particularly UNESCO, monitor training program outcomes and AI ethics implementation. Once the draft AI legislation is enacted, formal monitoring mechanisms will be established for compliance and enforcement. Current evaluation focuses on institutional capacity building, workforce development metrics, and smart application deployment across ministries.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

As INSAIN remains under development, no specific penalties or enforcement mechanisms are currently established. The Minister of Communications has indicated that Iraq is drafting AI-specific legislation that will incorporate UN principles on human dignity and AI ethics, which may include enforcement provisions. In the absence of dedicated AI legislation, existing laws including the Iraqi Civil Code No. 40 of 1951, Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, and Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012 would apply to AI-related civil and criminal matters. Government officials and NGOs have emphasized the need for comprehensive AI legislation to establish clear liability frameworks. Appeals would follow existing administrative and judicial procedures until dedicated AI regulations are enacted. The strategy emphasizes ethical compliance and UN supervision principles rather than punitive enforcement during the current development phase.

Relationship to Other Instruments

The INSAIN strategy relates to Iraq's existing legal framework for digital governance. The Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012 provides the foundational legal framework for electronic transactions and includes some data protection provisions. The Iraqi Constitution of 2005 contains references to a right to personal privacy, though this remains largely undefined in legislation. The Electronic Payment Services Regulations No. 3 of 2014 addresses financial technology governance. The strategy development responds to the absence of specific AI and cybercrime legislation in Iraq. A Draft Information Crimes Law proposed in 2011 was never enacted due to human rights concerns raised by international organizations. The forthcoming AI legislation being drafted by the Ministry of Communications will provide dedicated legal authority for INSAIN implementation.

International Alignment

Iraq's approach to AI governance emphasizes alignment with international standards and UN principles. The Minister of Communications has stated that AI legislation will incorporate general principles protecting human dignity under UN supervision. UNESCO has conducted specialized training for Iraqi trainers on AI ethics, making Iraq one of the first three countries globally to receive such training. The July 2024 training focused on using AI tools to monitor violations against journalists and influencers. Prime Minister Al-Sudani emphasized learning from global advancements in cybersecurity and ethical AI regulation. Iraq's AI readiness according to international indices falls below the global average, indicating the strategy's importance for catching up with regional and global developments. The strategy development reflects awareness of neighboring countries' AI initiatives, with regional competition driving urgency for advancement.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References