Iceland

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The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is responsible for strategy and policymaking for digital transformation and ICT. There is extensive collaboration and consultation between the Ministry and other governmental bodies and actors.

Under the Ministry of Finance and Economic affairs, a special taskforce, Digital Iceland, is operated for the coordination, development and execution of core projects. Digital Iceland operates the national portal Island.is. 

The Ministry, under the Digital Iceland team, has recruited the role of Chief Data Officer for the government sector. The role is intended to map data assets, create a best-in-class data governance structure and guide ministries and agencies in their efforts to mediate and utilise data in service provisioning and decision making. 

The Ministry is responsible for strategy and policymaking for innovation and artificial intelligence, and therefore for AI Act incorporation. The Ministry’s digital initiatives include the Language Technology Programme and the Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. Reuse of public data is also a part of the Ministry’s mandate, including the Open Data Directive and Data Governance Act.

The Ministry is responsible for telecommunications, digital communication and internet security, as well as all electronic business relations – therefore also for eIDAS incorporation. Cyber security is also part of the Ministry’s mandate.

The Ministry is responsible for electronic communication for the private sector, e.g. corporate registry and EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act and Product Liability Directive.

Pursuant to Chapter VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the Data Protection Authority (DPA) is a supervisory body which oversees the implementation of the Regulation, of Act No. 90/2018, and of special legal provisions concerning the processing of personal data and other related rules. 

The Data Protection Authority is an independent body managed by a special board. The Data Protection Commissioner is responsible for and oversees the authority’s daily activities, financial matters and operations, as well as personnel recruitment. 

Eyvör NCC-IS (National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre – Iceland) was formally launched in April 2024 under EU Regulation 2021/887 as Iceland’s designated NCC in support of the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC). 
Eyvör’s mission is to function as the national coordination hub for cybersecurity research, education, innovation, and capacity-building. It brings together universities, research institutions, SMEs, industry, and public bodies, and serves as Iceland’s liaison within the EU NCC-Network.
Key activities include managing cybersecurity funding (national and EU), promoting the uptake of advanced cybersecurity solutions, improving skills and awareness across society, supporting research and innovation, and assisting stakeholders in preparing for EU project participation. 
Eyvör is deliberately designed to complement existing operational functions (such as CERT-IS) rather than replace them, focusing on community building, strategic coordination, and European cooperation. 

CERT-IS is mandated by law to act as a national point-of-contact for cyber-security-related incidents. CERT-IS serves its purpose by proactively analysing, advising on threats and vulnerabilities, as well as providing assistance in handling incidents that may occur. CERT-IS contributes to the overall cyber security in Iceland by providing alerts and contributing to publicly available educational material, including the website cert.is. 

The ECOI is responsible for the administration of electronic communications and network security and is an independent body under the ultimate direction of the Ministry of Interior. ECOI operates according to the Electronic Communications Act, passed by the Icelandic Parliament in 2023 and the Act on the Electronic Communications Office of Iceland.

The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities is a cooperation forum between local authorities. The association was established in 1945 and all Icelandic local authorities have been members of the association since 1973.

The Association aims to defend local interests in dealings with the government and other parties in both national and international matters. It formulates common policies on specific issues and, therefore, works closely with both the central government and the Althingi. A special cooperation agreement is in force between the association and the government, containing formal provisions on their relations.