Regional Overview Regional Overview Country Comprehensive data-protection / privacy law? (yes/ no) Biometric data treated as sensitive? Timor-Leste ⛔ ⛔ Vietnam ✅ Partly Notable gaps/risks for digital ID Country No comprehensive framework for digital ID yet; privacy and misuse risks remain under-addressed. Palau Data-protection framework exists, but spyware, cybersecurity abuses and state surveillance remain major concerns. SUB REGION - THE PACIFIC American Samoa Australia ⛔ ✅ Unclear Partly No specific digital ID/privacy framework identified; rely largely on broader U.S./territorial rules. Relatively comprehensive framework, but gaps remain including limited erasure rights and no universal mandatory encryption requirement. Fiji ⛔ Unclear No dedicated safeguards. Guam ⛔ Unclear No specific digital ID/privacy framework identified; rely largely on broader U.S./territorial rules. Kiribati ✅ Unclear Some safeguards exist, but they only partially address digital ID risks. ⛔ Unclear Legal safeguards remain unclear and uneven. Micronesia ⛔ Unclear No clear digital ID/privacy safeguards Nauru ⛔ Unclear Legal safeguards remain unclear. New Zealand ✅ Partly Relatively comprehensive framework, but gaps remain including limited data-erasure rights and no universal mandatory encryption requirement. ⛔ Unclear No specific digital ID/privacy framework; would rely largely on broader U.S./territorial rules. Marshall Islands Northern Mariana Islands Comprehensive data-protection / privacy law? (yes/ no) Biometric data treated as sensitive? ✅ Unclear Without comprehensive data protection laws or strong oversight mechanisms, citizens’ biometric and identity information could be misused or commercially exploited. ✅ Unclear Broader framework only partially addresses digital ID concerns. ✅ Unclear Recent law addresses retention, security and safeguards, but weaknesses remain around biometrics and government access. ⛔ Unclear No specific digital ID/privacy safeguards identified in the overview. Tonga ⛔ Unclear No clear privacy framework identified for future digital ID development. Tuvalu ⛔ Unclear Digital ambitions are articulated, but implementation and safeguards remain uncertain. Vanuatu ✅ Unclear Recent laws address security and retention, but weaknesses remain around biometric regulation and government access. Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands / broader datagovernance framework Notable gaps/risks for digital ID 44 45 STATELESSNESS ENCYCLOPEDIA ASIA PACIFIC THIRD EDITION - REGIONAL OVERVIEW REPORT 2026