Quito, November 11, 2025 — The Ecuadorian authority has issued new guidelines governing the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the processing of sensitive personal data, aimed at protecting individual rights and strengthening institutional data security.
The measures, adopted by the Superintendence of Economic Competition (SCE), set out strict requirements for consent, anonymisation, and human oversight in any AI-based processing. Institutions must obtain the explicit consent of data subjects, apply mandatory anonymisation before automated analysis, and ensure constant human supervision to maintain traceability and accountability.
Use of AI tools is restricted to legally authorised purposes within the authority’s mandate, and the processing of personal data on public or insecure platforms is expressly prohibited. The guidelines also reaffirm citizens’ right not to be subject to decisions made solely through automated systems, requiring effective human review mechanisms.
From a technical standpoint, the SCE will operate secure, closed digital environments with auditable records and will rely exclusively on certified tools compliant with international ISO/IEC standards 27001, 27002, and 27701. Any project involving AI and sensitive data must undergo a prior risk and impact assessment.
The authority said the new framework strengthens its institutional culture of digital ethics and responsible innovation, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, secure, and human-centred technology management.
