Israel
Israel chose the opposite of the EU model on purpose. Its December 2023 national AI policy delegates rulemaking to sectoral regulators under shared responsible-innovation principles, with a coordinating knowledge center rather than a central AI authority. There is no AI statute and none imminent; the bet is that sector expertise beats horizontal law for a fast-moving technology. A National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office, created in September 2025, runs the national AI program the government approved in June 2026, and it has no regulatory mandate.
Key points
- The 2023 national policy on AI regulation and ethics is the governing document; it carries no statutory force.
- Sectoral regulators write their own AI rules within shared principles; a coordination center keeps them consistent.
- Privacy law, updated through Amendment 13 to the Privacy Protection Law, is the binding layer most AI systems meet first.
- The Privacy Protection Authority published draft guidance on applying the Privacy Protection Law to AI systems on April 28, 2025, covering legal basis, impact assessments, and scraping; it remained a draft as of October 2026.
- A National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office, set up in September 2025, coordinates the national AI program approved on June 16, 2026 (sovereign compute, a national AI institute, AI literacy). Neither creates AI-specific legal duties.
Laws and instruments
National AI Regulation and Ethics Policy
Israel's framework for sector-led AI regulation on responsible-innovation principles, favoring soft law and regulator discretion over a horizontal act.
Timeline
- December 2023National AI policy adopted, built on sectoral, principles-based regulation.
- 2024 to 2026Sector regulators issue guidance; privacy enforcement modernized.
- April 28, 2025The Privacy Protection Authority publishes draft guidance on AI systems under the Privacy Protection Law.
- August 14, 2025Amendment 13 to the Privacy Protection Law takes effect, modernizing enforcement.
- September 2025A National AI Directorate is established in the Prime Minister's Office.
- June 16, 2026The government approves a multi-year national AI program; no regulatory measures are included.
Who it applies to
No AI-specific statutory duties. Obligations arrive through each sector's regulator and through privacy law for personal data.
Penalties
No AI-specific penalties. Privacy Protection Authority enforcement and sectoral sanctions apply on their ordinary terms.
Common questions
Does Israel have a comprehensive AI law?
What are the penalties for AI violations in Israel?
Who does AI regulation in Israel apply to?
Artificial Intelligence Regulations, "AI Regulation in Israel," reviewed October 26, 2026, https://artificialintelligenceregulations.com/jurisdictions/israel.html.
Entries state the position as of the review date and link to the primary text for verification.