AI policy timeline
Indexed instruments by year of adoption. The same records as the jurisdiction index, ordered by date.
Instruments by year
Year of adoption for each indexed instrument. 15 of 86 were adopted before 2015 and do not mention AI.
Binding here means a statute, a delegated instrument or a binding agency rule. Guidance, standards, voluntary commitments, reviews and proposals are counted separately. Year is the year of adoption of the instrument as indexed, not the year any AI-specific provision commenced. AI Law and Policy Index This site Our own reading of primary instruments, with a link to each. Not legal advice, not a compliance checklist and not exhaustive. Instruments that never mention AI are included where they apply to it, which is most of the Australian list. Statuses and commencement dates go stale; every record carries its review date. Cite AI Safety Tracker, "AI Law and Policy Index". https://aisafetytracker.org/policy/. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
Every instrument, newest first
2026
- Getting it right: Building AI infrastructure that works for Australia Office of AI, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence Government of South Australia
- Bill C-36, Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act Parliament of Canada
- Digital Omnibus on AI European Parliament and Council
- Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI Infocomm Media Development Authority
- Enforcement Decree of the AI Basic Act Ministry of Science and ICT
- Colorado SB26-189, Automated Decision-Making Technology Colorado General Assembly
2025
- Australian AI Safety Institute Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- National AI Capability Plan Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Measures for Labelling AI-Generated Synthetic Content Cyberspace Administration of China and three other bodies
- General-Purpose AI Code of Practice European Commission and independent experts
- India AI Governance Guidelines Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- Act on Promotion of Research, Development and Utilization of AI-Related Technologies National Diet of Japan
- Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Executive Order 14179, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI President of the United States
- Executive Order 14365, Ensuring a National Policy Framework for AI President of the United States
- TAKE IT DOWN Act US Congress
- California SB 53, Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act California State Legislature
- New York RAISE Act, Responsible AI Safety and Education Act New York State Legislature
2024
- Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 Parliament of Australia
- Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Act 2024 Parliament of Australia
- Digital ID Act 2024 Parliament of Australia
- Policy for the responsible use of AI in government Digital Transformation Agency
- National framework for the assurance of artificial intelligence in government Data and Digital Ministers Meeting
- Voluntary AI Safety Standard Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Proposals paper: introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Guidance on privacy and the use of commercially available AI products Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- Guidance on privacy and developing and training generative AI models Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
- REP 798 Beware the gap: governance arrangements in the face of AI innovation Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence, final report Senate of Australia
- NSW Artificial Intelligence Assessment Framework Digital NSW
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act) European Parliament and Council
- Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on liability for defective products European Parliament and Council
- European AI Office European Commission
- AI Guidelines for Business Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
- Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI Infocomm Media Development Authority and AI Verify Foundation
- Advisory Guidelines on Use of Personal Data in AI Systems Personal Data Protection Commission
- Framework Act on the Development of AI and Establishment of Trust National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
- Korea AI Safety Institute Ministry of Science and ICT
2023
- Prudential Standard CPS 230 Operational Risk Management Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
- Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Reference Group Attorney-General's Department
- Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, final report Commonwealth of Australia
- Privacy Act Review Report Attorney-General's Department
- PL 2338/2023 (Marco Legal da Inteligencia Artificial) National Congress of Brazil
- Voluntary Code of Conduct on Advanced Generative AI Systems Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- Interim Measures for the Management of Generative AI Services Cyberspace Administration of China and six other bodies
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 Parliament of India
- A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Online Safety Act 2023 Parliament of the United Kingdom
- AI Security Institute Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- ICO guidance on AI and data protection Information Commissioner's Office
- Executive Order 14110, Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI (revoked) President of the United States
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework 1.0 National Institute of Standards and Technology
2022
- Bill C-27, Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (died on the order paper) Parliament of Canada
- Provisions on Deep Synthesis Internet Information Services Cyberspace Administration of China
- Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act) European Parliament and Council
- AI Verify AI Verify Foundation
- Advanced computing and semiconductor export controls Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce
2021
- Online Safety Act 2021 Parliament of Australia
- Provisions on Algorithmic Recommendation of Internet Information Services Cyberspace Administration of China
- Personal Information Protection Law National People's Congress
- Data Security Law National People's Congress
- Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
2019
- Australia's AI Ethics Principles Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Directive on Automated Decision-Making Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Directive (EU) 2019/790 on copyright in the Digital Single Market European Parliament and Council
2018
- Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 Parliament of Australia
- Lei 13.709/2018 (Lei Geral de Protecao de Dados) National Congress of Brazil
- Data Protection Act 2018 Parliament of the United Kingdom
2016
- Cybersecurity Law National People's Congress
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) European Parliament and Council
2014
- Lei 12.965/2014 (Marco Civil da Internet) National Congress of Brazil
2012
- Personal Data Protection Act 2012 Parliament of Singapore
2011
- Personal Information Protection Act National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
2010
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law) Parliament of Australia
- Equality Act 2010 Parliament of the United Kingdom
2003
- Act on the Protection of Personal Information National Diet of Japan
2001
- Corporations Act 2001 Parliament of Australia
2000
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act Parliament of Canada
- Information Technology Act 2000 Parliament of India
1990
- Lei 8.078/1990 (Codigo de Defesa do Consumidor) National Congress of Brazil
1989
- Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 Parliament of Australia
1988
- Privacy Act 1988 Parliament of Australia
1970
- Copyright Act, Article 30-4 National Diet of Japan
1968
- Copyright Act 1968 Parliament of Australia
1914
- Federal Trade Commission Act, section 5 US Congress