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    AI by country · East Asia

    AI in Taiwan: the rules, the readiness and where to start

    Last checked: 29 October 2026

    What should a company in Taiwan know before starting with AI?

    Taiwan's Artificial Intelligence Basic Act took effect on 14 January 2026. It sets principles and asks ministries to write risk-based rules, rather than placing direct duties on companies today. The Personal Data Protection Act is the law that applies to AI using personal data now, and a 2025 amendment that adds a new regulator and breach reporting is waiting for a start date.

    At a glance

    Taiwan at a glance

    Key facts about Taiwan
    Data protection lawPersonal Data Protection Act, in force (last amended in force May 2023); amendment of 11 November 2025 not yet in force
    RegulatorSector regulators today; a Personal Data Protection Commission is being prepared
    AI policyArtificial Intelligence Basic Act, in force since 14 January 2026; National Science and Technology Council is the competent authority
    Time zoneUTC+8 (India is 2.5 hours behind)
    CurrencyTWD (New Taiwan dollar)
    Business languageMandarin Chinese

    Why now

    Why Taiwan is worth watching

    Each point links to the document it comes from.

    • The Artificial Intelligence Basic Act was promulgated and took effect on 14 January 2026, with 20 articles.[1]

    • Article 18 gives government bodies two years from commencement to make or amend the rules needed to match the Act.[1]

    • Article 16 asks the Ministry of Digital Affairs to build an AI risk classification framework aligned with international standards, which sector regulators will use for their own rules.[1]

    • On 21 May 2026 the Executive Yuan announced the National AI Strategy Special Committee to oversee AI affairs and carry out the Act, according to the Taipei Times.[2]

    • The Personal Data Protection Act was amended on 11 November 2025, but most changes wait for a start date set by the Executive Yuan.[5]

    The rules

    The rules that matter for AI

    What each law or policy means when you build or buy an AI system.

    Artificial Intelligence Basic Act

    In force2026It sets seven principles, including privacy and data governance, transparency with suitable disclosure or labelling of AI output, fairness and accountability (Article 4). AI products found to be high-risk by the sector regulator, after consulting the Ministry of Digital Affairs, must carry clear warnings (Article 5). Sector regulators are to write risk-based rules and clarify liability for high-risk AI (Articles 16 and 17).[1]

    Personal Data Protection Act (version in force)

    In force2023A regulator can restrict transfers abroad, for example where the receiving country lacks adequate protection (Article 21). After a breach caused by a violation, the people affected must be told once the facts are checked (Article 12). A non-government body that fails to keep a security plan can be fined NT$20,000 to NT$2 million, rising to NT$15 million if not corrected or for serious cases (Article 48, as amended in May 2023).[4]

    Personal Data Protection Act amendment of 11 November 2025

    Passed, not yet in force2025It makes the Personal Data Protection Commission the single regulator, adds a duty to report qualifying breaches to it, and adds new articles on security and transfers. The Executive Yuan will set the start date, which is unclear as of 29 October 2026. The Commission's website still describes it as a preparatory office.[5]

    Where AI fits first

    Where AI fits first

    Banking and insurance

    Document processing, fraud alerts and customer service in Mandarin, with staff reviewing outputs.

    The Financial Supervisory Commission issued non-binding Guidelines for the Use of AI in the Financial Industry on 20 June 2024, covering risk assessment, third-party vendors and human control of generative AI output. Law firm summary.[7]

    Manufacturing and electronics

    Visual inspection, maintenance log summaries and searching technical documents.

    The AI Basic Act protects trade secrets and favours data minimisation as principles (Article 4). Much factory data is not personal data.[1]

    Health care

    Drafting clinical summaries and helping staff search guidelines, with clinicians deciding.

    Under Article 14 of the AI Basic Act, sector regulators are to work with the data protection authority to avoid unnecessary collection of personal data in AI.[1]

    Public services

    Answering citizen questions and drafting replies, with officials approving.

    Government bodies using AI must carry out a risk assessment and set usage rules (Article 19).[1]

    Your first steps

    Your first steps

    1. Read the seven principles in Article 4 of the AI Basic Act and use them as a checklist for each AI project.
    2. Label or disclose AI-generated output where people could be misled, in line with the transparency principle.
    3. Write and keep a personal data security plan, since gaps can bring fines under Article 48 of the current Act.
    4. Check where personal data goes when you use an overseas AI service, and whether any regulator has restricted transfers to that place.
    5. Prepare a breach process now, because the 2025 amendment will add reporting to the new Commission once it starts.
    6. If you are a bank or insurer, follow the FSC AI guidelines for risk assessment and vendor oversight.
    7. Watch for the Ministry of Digital Affairs risk framework and your sector regulator's rules under Article 16.

    AI services for Taiwan

    AI consulting and development for teams in Taiwan

    We work remotely with companies in Taiwan, in your time zone, and keep your data under the rules described above.

    AI agents and automation

    Agents that finish multi-step work across your tools, with people approving what matters.
    Learn more

    Document Q&A (RAG)

    Answers from your own documents, with the source shown for every answer.
    Learn more

    AI governance and data protection

    Policies, review steps and audit trails that fit your local data law.
    Learn more

    Software and cloud engineering

    Web apps, integrations and cloud platforms built around your AI use case.
    Learn more

    How we work with you

    How we work with you

    We work remotely with clients worldwide, in the client's time zone. Taiwan is on UTC+8 and India on UTC+5:30, a 2.5 hour gap. Taking a 9:00 to 18:00 day in Taiwan and 9:30 to 18:30 in India, the overlap is about 6 hours, from 12:00 to 18:00 Taiwan time.

    Questions

    Common questions about AI in Taiwan

    Does Taiwan have an AI law?

    Yes. The Artificial Intelligence Basic Act took effect on 14 January 2026. It is a framework law: it sets principles and tells ministries to make risk-based rules, and it does not list penalties for companies.

    Who regulates AI?

    The National Science and Technology Council is the competent authority under the Act. The Ministry of Digital Affairs builds the risk framework, and each sector regulator handles AI in its own field (Articles 2 and 16).

    Is the 2025 data protection amendment in force?

    Not for most articles as of 29 October 2026. The Executive Yuan has to set the start date, and the new Commission's website still describes it as a preparatory office.

    What happens if we leak personal data?

    Today you must tell affected people after checking the facts, and failures in security can bring fines of up to NT$15 million under Article 48. Once the amendment starts, qualifying breaches will also have to be reported to the Commission.

    Complimentary tools

    Try these first

    Three complimentary tools from our AI Toolkit that suit a team starting out.

    AI readiness score

    Answer a few questions and see where your team stands, in about five minutes.
    Open the tool

    AI use case triage

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    Read next

    Sources

    Sources

    Facts checked on 29 October 2026. Numbers in square brackets above match this list.
    1. [1] Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China (copy hosted by Yuan Ze University), 2026-01-14. Artificial Intelligence Basic Act, full text(yzu.edu.tw)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Artificial Intelligence Basic Act, full text. Primary text, Chinese, printed from the national law database and attached to a university notice. Used for the promulgation and start date and Articles 2, 4, 5, 14, 16 to 19. The national database itself did not load for us.

    2. [2] Taipei Times, 2026-05-22. Executive Yuan announces National AI Strategy Special Committee(taipeitimes.com)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Executive Yuan announces National AI Strategy Special Committee. Press report. Used for the 21 May 2026 announcement of the committee.

    3. [3] Life Insurance Association of the Republic of China, law database, 2025-11-11. Personal Data Protection Act, Article 21(law.lia-roc.org.tw)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Personal Data Protection Act, Article 21. Industry association copy of the law text, current and amended versions. Used for the grounds to restrict transfers abroad.

    4. [4] Life Insurance Association of the Republic of China, law database, 2025-11-11. Personal Data Protection Act, Article 48(law.lia-roc.org.tw)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Personal Data Protection Act, Article 48. Industry association copy of the law text. Used for Article 48 fine amounts in the current (May 2023) and amended versions, and Article 12 notification wording.

    5. [5] Life Insurance Association of the Republic of China, law database, 2025-11-11. Personal Data Protection Act, amendment history and commencement(law.lia-roc.org.tw)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Personal Data Protection Act, amendment history and commencement. Used for the 11 November 2025 amendment, the list of amended articles, the Commission as competent authority, breach reporting in amended Article 12, and the start date to be set by the Executive Yuan.

    6. [6] Personal Data Protection Commission Preparatory Office, 2026-10-29. Official website(pdpc.gov.tw)
      Full title and what we used it for

      Official website. Primary. Checked on this date; the site still names itself the Preparatory Office.

    7. [7] Lee and Li, Attorneys-at-Law, 2024-07-04. FSC issues Guidelines for the Use of AI in the Financial Industry(leeandli.com)
      Full title and what we used it for

      FSC issues Guidelines for the Use of AI in the Financial Industry. Law firm summary, used for interpretation. Used for the 20 June 2024 issue date, non-binding status and main points. We did not read the FSC text itself.

    This is general information, not legal advice. Taiwan's AI rules are still being written under the 2026 Act, and the 2025 data protection amendment has no start date yet. Check with a qualified lawyer in Taiwan before you act. Facts checked on 29 October 2026.

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