What are the ethical standards for AI in your country?
Countries worldwide are developing their own ethical standards for adoption of AI. Discover which standards apply for your part of the Asia-Pacific region.
As adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within non-profits across the Asia-Pacific region increases, what steps can organisations take to protect what’s most important to them; their people, clients and community?
Let’s dive into the different guiding principles being legislated across the world (and closer to home) and help determine what practices your organisation can incorporate to ensure your AI adoption is safe, secure and ethical.
International AI Standards and Frameworks
OECD AI Principles
Adopted by dozens of countries, these are the leading intergovernmental standard for trustworthy, responsible, and human-centered AI.
Practical for organisations that benefit the public, these principles champion human rights, inclusivity, transparency and social justice, with practical recommendations for policy and implementation in both public and social sectors.
Read more about OECD's AI Principles
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI
Adopted by the 194 member states of UNESCO (countries with UNESCO membership), this global framework promotes core values such as dignity, diversity and ecosystem well-being.
The guidance is highly relevant for NGOs, framing AI policy around inclusivity, human rights and environmental sustainability; as well as calling for ethical impact assessment, transparency and accountability.
Read more about UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI
ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics
The ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics serves as a practical guide for organisations in the region that wish to design, develop and deploy AI technologies.
The guide focuses on encouraging alignment with ASEAN principles while maintaining compatibility with other international frameworks, and defers to individual country framework where applicable.
Read more about ASEAN’s new Expanded Guide on AI Governance and Ethics
National AI Standards and Frameworks
Japan’s The AI Promotion Act (2025)
Japan’s AI Promotion Act (2025) provides a framework with voluntary guidelines, focused on industry, government and public coordination. It enshrines broad principles for transparency, safety and alignment with international norms, but does not enforce penalties.
Read more about Japan's The AI Promotion Act (2025) (.PDF)
Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework
Singapore’s model highlights mandatory risk management requirements in financial services and sectoral guidelines for health and media.
Singapore has also piloted AI Verify, an AI governance testing framework and software tool kit to validate compliance and safety.
Read more about Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework
Australia’s Voluntary AI Safety Standard
The Australian Government National AI Centre (NAIC) released its new Guide for AI Adoption in 2025, providing a clear, practical framework to help Australian not-for-profits use AI responsibly and in ways that support social justice. The guide introduces six essential practices for responsible AI adoption, covering accountability and governance, human oversight, transparency, fairness, privacy and security, and contestability.
Read more about the New Australian national standards for AI adoption for your organisation in our recently released guide.
South Korea’s AI Basic Act
South Korea’s AI Basic Act are national principles for transparency, accountability, privacy and bias prevention.
Oversight is coordinated by the National AI Committee, along with ministries issuing ethical guidelines per sector and a dedicated AI Safety Research Centre for advanced risks.
Read more about South Korea's AI Basic Act
India’s AI Governance Framework
India is evolving toward comprehensive regulation, with draft principles for responsible AI overseen by NITI Aayog.
Key focus areas include inclusivity, fairness, privacy and transparency, combined with sectoral guidance. Broader legislation is anticipated but not yet enacted.
Read more about India's AI Governance Framework
Ethical AI standards are continuously evolving
While the standards listed above provide a solid foundation for AI adoption, AI technology is evolving at an incredible pace.
Countries worldwide will increasingly see it as a necessity to implement standards that reflect the cultural, social and economic needs of their local communities.
So, what does that mean for nonprofit organisations? It’s important as organisations pushing for social good that we continue to uphold the highest ethical standards that reflect the values and mission of your organisation. AI can be an incredible tool to drive efficiency and productivity, but to affect positive change it must be done in a way that is safe, secure and ethical.
Looking for guidance developing your organisations own ethical AI policy?
We have experts ready to help you unlock the potential to deliver fresh new outcomes. Reach out today to set up a time to discuss your organisations AI needs.
Book a consult with an expert today.
Looking to draft your policy right away? You can download a ethical AI policy template that you can adapt to your organisation's needs from the Digital Transformation Hub.