The Ecuadorian government announced on March 24 the launch of a Regulatory Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence (AI), an initiative led by President Daniel Noboa Azín and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society (MINTEL). The program was presented at the Technical University of Loja with the aim to promote technological innovation, attract investment, and build a secure and competitive digital environment in Ecuador.
The regulatory sandbox will allow companies, academia, and public sector organizations to experiment with AI applications in strategic sectors while ensuring protection of fundamental rights, algorithmic transparency, and ethical data use. According to officials, this approach aims to establish evidence-based governance for AI that aligns with international standards through continuous learning and adaptive regulation.
This initiative is part of the Organic Law for Digital and Audiovisual Transformation (LOTDA) as well as the Strategy for Promoting Ethical and Responsible Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence in Ecuador. The strategy was issued under Ministerial Agreement No. 0030 on January 19, 2026. It sets out actions such as creating a regulatory testing environment focused on emerging technologies like AI.
As part of the regional “IA Sprint” initiative, MINTEL has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to lead an international consultancy tasked with structuring an implementation plan for the AI Regulatory Sandbox. This plan will define operational guidelines necessary for its rollout.
Development of this project involved participation from public sector actors, academia, private industry, and other stakeholders through technical working groups designed to align national needs with best international practices. MINTEL said it views this tool as a strategic mechanism to boost Ecuador’s digital ecosystem by overseeing data governance and fostering technological advancement.
The government reaffirmed its commitment “to consolidate a modern and flexible regulatory framework that promotes technological investment, generates development opportunities, and ensures that Artificial Intelligence contributes to economic growth and well-being for all Ecuadorians.”
