Friday 1 May, 2026
Secretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Steven Matainaho, has unveiled Papua New Guinea’s vision for national data sovereignty at the Media Summit 2026.
Speaking on a panel moderated by Scott Waide and Lekmak, alongside international experts, Matainaho outlined how PNG will navigate the rise of artificial intelligence. The session, held ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 5, highlighted the government’s new AI policy as a safeguard for the nation’s digital and cultural integrity.
Secretary Matainaho presented on the Government AI Adoption Framework, expressed as: Digital Government (DG) × Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ^AI. This formula highlights the National AI Strategy, which is the government’s plan to build a strong, unified digital system that supports the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence. Rather than fragmented ICT projects, the strategy calls for one coordinated national framework that integrates connectivity, computing power, data, digital public infrastructure, and AI capability. Its aim is to ensure AI is deployed on trusted national platforms such as SevisPass, delivering secure, interoperable, and culturally respectful technology.
Matainaho emphasized on four key components of the framework:
- Building on Foundations: Strengthening existing platforms like SevisPass and SevisDEx.
- National AI Register: Tracking all AI models, with oversight on offshore data processing.
- Sovereign Data Governance: Shifting from reliance on foreign-trained models to locally developed ones that respect PNG’s cultural context.
- Legislative Reset: Introducing new laws, including a National Artificial Intelligence Act and a Data Governance and Protection Act.
He cautioned that without a sovereign framework, global AI models risk misrepresenting Pacific cultures, much of which remain oral and community-based.
Looking ahead to the 2027 election cycle, Matainaho said the Department’s goal is to establish a shared verification standard for government and media.
“This proactive stance will protect the sovereign aspects of our national data,” he said, “ensuring technology serves the people rather than allowing external algorithms to shape our narrative.”