Estonia approves world's first digital identity system for AI agents to trace actions and responsibility

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal recently announced that Estonia is set to become the first country in the world to assign digital legal identities to AI agents. The initiative will provide AI systems with personal identification codes, making it easier to identify and verify actions carried out by artificial intelligence on behalf of individuals, companies, or public institutions.

According to Michal, the system is designed to bring greater transparency and accountability to AI-driven activities. In a post on X, he said the framework would make it clear which AI system is taking action, on whose behalf it is acting, and what rights it has been granted. He added that AI agents must operate with limited, controllable, and auditable authorizations to ensure responsible use.

Today at the https://t.co/y0m6kr6QX3 advisory council.I gave my approval to the council’s proposal that Estonia become the first country in the world to create a digital identity for AI agents — an AI personal identification code.This may sound technical, but the idea is… pic.twitter.com/ibI1FHK4mc— Kristen Michal (@KristenMichalPM) June 16, 2026

Today at the https://t.co/y0m6kr6QX3 advisory council.I gave my approval to the council’s proposal that Estonia become the first country in the world to create a digital identity for AI agents — an AI personal identification code.This may sound technical, but the idea is… pic.twitter.com/ibI1FHK4mc

The announcement was made during a meeting of the eesti.ai Advisory Council, where officials discussed the country’s approach to integrating AI into its digital infrastructure.

Michal also highlighted Estonia’s long-standing focus on building trust through digital governance. In his X post, he noted that the country’s digital identity system, X-Road data exchange platform, digital signatures, and data tracker services have helped make Estonia faster, simpler, and more secure.

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“Now we face the same question in the age of AI agents: how to use new technology so that convenience grows, but control and accountability are not lost,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister argued that if Estonia acts quickly and wisely, it can help shape international standards for AI governance. While Estonia may be a small country, Michal described the emerging field of AI regulation as a significant opportunity for the nation to exert global influence.