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Singapore Model AI Governance Framework: Second Edition
Prepared by Shubhank Suman · Last reviewed
Non-binding policy framework, not legislation. (IMDA)
- Legal character
- AI governance framework / guidance
- Region
- Asia-Pacific
- Released
- 21 January 2020
What it covers
The Second Edition translates AI governance principles into organisational practices.
IMDA describes the framework as practical guidance for organisations deploying AI, with emphasis on:
1. Internal governance structures and measures
2. Human involvement in AI-augmented decision-making
3. Operations management
4. Stakeholder interaction and communication. (IMDA)
AI, privacy and cybersecurity relevance
- AI: Very High
- Privacy: High
- Cyber: High
AI
Very High
The framework addresses:
- governance roles
- risk management
- human oversight
- model/data management
- explainability
- robustness
- stakeholder communication
- accountability.
The Second Edition clarified the role of humans in AI-augmented decision-making and added practical organisational examples. (IMDA)
Privacy
High
Privacy is embedded within the framework's data-accountability and responsible-AI approach, but the framework does not replace Singapore's PDPA.
For an organisation using AI with personal data:
PDPA = binding data-protection obligations Model Framework = voluntary AI-governance guidance
Cybersecurity
High
Operational governance emphasises robustness, risk controls and lifecycle management. It is not a cybersecurity statute, but it provides governance controls relevant to secure AI deployment.
Applicability
Voluntary guidance for organisations developing/deploying AI.
Current validity
CURRENT AS A NON-BINDING FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK; SUPPLEMENTED BY LATER SINGAPORE AI FRAMEWORKS
Read first
Internal Governance Structures → Human Involvement → Operations Management → Stakeholder Interaction and Communication.
Provisions / sections covered
Current-position warning
The Second Edition remains a foundational IMDA framework, but it is not Singapore's newest comprehensive AI-governance publication.
Singapore has subsequently published additional frameworks, including:
- Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI
- Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI.
In 2026, IMDA released an updated Agentic AI framework containing additional case studies and best practices. (IMDA)
Therefore:
The 2020 Second Edition is not Singapore's complete current AI framework.
Subject-matter tags
- AI governance
- Generative AI
- Agentic AI
- Transparency
- Explainability
- Human oversight
- Risk management
- AI cybersecurity
- Accountability
Subject-matter tags describe what the indexed text discusses. They are not legal conclusions.
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Document page in the Knowledge Base - full text or PDF where it is available for this record.
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