OAS - AI Governance Framework

Overview

The Organization of American States (OAS) serves as a pivotal regional organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) governance principles and practices across its 35 member states in the Americas. Recognizing the transformative potential and inherent risks of AI, the OAS has embarked on a comprehensive agenda to guide the responsible and ethical development and deployment of AI technologies. This involves fostering regional dialogue, developing common frameworks, and strengthening the capacities of its member states to navigate the complex landscape of AI. The OAS's approach is rooted in shared democratic values, respect for human rights, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, aiming to ensure that AI benefits all citizens while mitigating potential harms.

AI Governance Mandate

The mandate for the OAS's engagement in AI governance stems from high-level political commitments made by its member states. The General Assemblies of the OAS in 2022 and 2023, along with the 2022 Summit of the Americas, endorsed commitments to advance a regional agenda on data governance, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. Notably, the Ninth Summit of the Americas adopted the “Regional Agenda for Digital Transformation” on June 9, 2022, which explicitly committed member states to promote the “responsible and ethical development and use of artificial intelligence systems and other transformative technologies, while protecting individual privacy and personal data and promoting equity and respect for human rights.” This mandate is further reinforced by resolutions such as the Strengthening Democracy Resolution AG/RES. 3004 (LIII-O/23), which supports initiatives in this area.

Key AI Instruments

• Inter-American Framework on Data Governance and Artificial Intelligence (MIGDIA): This flagship initiative, inspired by the 2022 Summit of the Americas, aims to guide member states in developing robust data governance for AI. It includes guidelines across 12 thematic areas, a study on the state of data and AI governance in the Americas, and a model data and AI governance policy. These documents were made available in November 2024.
• Declaration and Plan of Action “Towards the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Deployment of Artificial Intelligence in the Americas: The Importance of Governance, Regulatory, and Institutional Frameworks”: Adopted by Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology during their Seventh Meeting on December 12-13, 2024, this instrument prioritizes safety, transparency, and equity, seeking to mitigate risks like bias and privacy violations while fostering public trust and accelerating responsible innovation.
• Inter-American Guidelines on Data Governance and AI: These guidelines were developed through a collaborative process in 2023, focusing on twelve key themes prioritized by countries across the region, further enriched by cross-cutting guidelines identified in 2024 through multi-stakeholder co-creation.
• Regional Agenda for Digital Transformation (2022): While not solely focused on AI, this document articulates a broad perspective on how American States should engage with AI, emphasizing human rights and equity as core values.

Implementation Mechanisms

The OAS leverages several internal and collaborative mechanisms to implement its AI governance agenda:

• Department for Effective Public Management (DEPM): This department has been instrumental in facilitating the development of the MIGDIA through an ad hoc regional working group on data governance and AI.
• Inter-American Network on Digital Government (GEALC Network): Composed of government representatives, this network plays a crucial role in the ad hoc working group for MIGDIA, collaborating with civil society and private sector advisory groups.
• Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology (COMCYT): As a subsidiary of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), COMCYT is central to taking action on ministerial mandates, undertaking technical cooperation, and collaborating with strategic partners. It has established working groups, such as Working Group 1 on Governance, Regulatory, and Institutional Frameworks of Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Costa Rica, which met in December 2025.
• Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI): SEDI serves as the technical secretariat for COMCYT and spearheads significant initiatives, including a new project launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, titled “Developing an Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework for the Americas,” supported by over $1.1 million in grant funding.
• Inter-American Juridical Committee (CJI): This principal organ of the OAS, serving as an advisory body on juridical matters, has included “The use of Artificial Intelligence-based technologies in the judicial branch and its impact on human rights” on its current agenda, reflecting the legal implications of AI.

Member Engagement

Member states are deeply involved in the co-creation and implementation of AI governance initiatives. The development of the Inter-American Guidelines on Data Governance and AI, for instance, involved a collaborative process with countries across the region and multi-stakeholder co-creation sessions. The OAS organizes GobCamps and ministerial meetings to facilitate dialogue and engagement among government officials, civil society, and the private sector. Furthermore, the OAS supports capacity building through programs like the OAS Youth Academy on Transformative Technologies, which provides online training and certification on AI-related skills, and the OAS Network of Centers of Excellence on Transformative Technologies.

Current Focus Areas

The OAS's current focus areas in AI governance are multi-faceted:

• Developing National Frameworks: Assisting member states in establishing their national data and AI governance frameworks tailored to regional realities.
• Promoting Safe and Trustworthy AI: Emphasizing the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI, including a focus on transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
• Mitigating Risks: Addressing and mitigating risks such as bias, privacy violations, and other negative impacts of AI.
• Capacity Building: Strengthening institutional capacities and developing AI skills and talent across the Americas to ensure equitable benefits from AI's potential.
• Human Rights and Democratic Values: Ensuring that AI policies and initiatives align with democratic values, human rights, and security concerns, consistent with inter-American human rights instruments.
• Multi-stakeholder Collaboration: Encouraging inter-sectoral dialogue and collaboration among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, the OAS aims to solidify its role as a key driver in shaping AI governance in the Americas. Future directions include continuing to support the implementation of existing programs that align with the Plan of Action for AI, expanding the reach of initiatives like the OAS Youth Academy on Transformative Technologies, and coordinating efforts with other regional organizations and partners to maximize resources and avoid duplication. The organization is working towards a holistic approach that leverages its internal synergies across its four pillars—democracy, human rights, integral development, and multidimensional security—to effectively address the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI. There is also a proposal to establish an intergovernmental Council on Artificial Intelligence for Latin America and the Caribbean, aligned with UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, to reinforce regional capabilities.

Resources