During the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN) on 16 - 17 January 2025, three essential guides were unveiled:

1. ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation

Targeted at policy makers, regulators and industry organisations in ASEAN, the ASEAN Guide on Data Anonymisation seeks to provide information and guidance on basic data anonymisation concepts and techniques. 

The Guide is divided into three parts. Part 1 outlines the purpose and scope of the Guide, the benefits of anonymisation as well as the data protection landscape in ASEAN. Part 2 discusses key concepts and terminology in data anonymisation and describes typical scenarios for anonymisation. Part 3 provides an overview of anonymisation techniques before setting out key anonymisation steps that can be adopted as part of the anonymisation process.

2. Joint Mapping Guide on ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses (MCCs) and Ibero-American Data Protection Network (RIPD) MCCs

For organisations looking to transfer or receive personal data from overseas partners, the Joint Mapping Guide on the ASEAN Model Contractual Clauses (MCCs) and Ibero-American Data Protection Network (RIPD) MCCs offers a comparison between the ASEAN MCCs and the RIPD MCCs. Companies already familiar with the ASEAN MCCs can use the Joint Mapping Guide as a reference in their contractual negotiations on data transfers with their RIPD business partners.

3. Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics - Generative AI

The Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics - Generative AI supplements the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (2024) with policy considerations relevant to generative AI (Gen AI). It discusses opportunities and risks provided by Gen AI and recommends a range of suggested policy actions that ASEAN can consider in fostering responsible adoption. These recommendations emphasise the importance of promoting the numerous benefits of Gen AI alongside thoughtful, proportional, and interoperable measures that ensure its safety. The Guide also illustrates how some of its policy recommendations can be implementated with four detailed use cases from the region, namely:

• PhoGPT, by VinAI (Vietnam)
• Project Moonshot, by the AI Verify Foundation (Singapore)
• ThaiLLM, by BDI, NSTDA, VISTEC and collaborators (Thailand)
• Responsible AI Internal Programme, by Accenture (ASEAN-wide)