Artificial Intelligence law at Cyprus
As of May 2025, Cyprus is actively implementing the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) and has established a national AI governance framework to ensure the safe and ethical development and use of AI technologies.
🇨🇾 Cyprus and the EU AI Act
Cyprus, as an EU member state, is obligated to comply with the EU AI Act, which aims to regulate AI systems within the EU to ensure they are safe, transparent, and respect fundamental rights. The Act introduces a risk-based classification of AI systems, imposing stringent requirements on high-risk applications to mitigate potential harms. It also establishes provisions for prohibited AI practices deemed unacceptable, such as social scoring by governments and certain uses of biometric identification systems. (pyrgouvakis.com)
In November 2024, Cyprus completed its first obligation under the EU AI Act by notifying the European Commission of three national public authorities designated to supervise and enforce compliance with the Regulation:(Legal 500)
Commissioner for Personal Data Protection
Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman)
Attorney-General of the Republic(Cyprus Government)
These authorities will be granted additional powers to facilitate the exercise of their existing responsibilities to protect fundamental rights in cases where the use of AI poses high risks to these rights. These powers will take effect from 2 August 2026. (Cyprus Government)
🧠 National AI Strategy and Taskforce
In January 2025, the Cypriot Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Taskforce. This 11-member advisory body, chaired by the Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology, is tasked with developing, integrating, and implementing AI across various sectors in Cyprus. Its primary objectives include enhancing the national economy, bolstering competitiveness, and improving the quality of life for citizens. The Taskforce will also formulate a national AI strategy, identify AI opportunities across public and private sectors, foster innovation and research, and monitor global AI trends. (CBN, Economou & Co LLC)
The Cypriot government has committed to fostering research and innovation in AI, including the creation of a Centre of Excellence for applied research in AI and the formation of new financial support and funding schemes. A vibrant start-up ecosystem in AI will be supported through the development of an AI accelerator programme, providing expertise in developing AI solutions and facilitating access to expert communities. The growth of the AI start-up ecosystem will be encouraged through national funding programmes and state incentives, complemented by European funding programmes such as Horizon2020. (AI Watch)
⚖️ Legal and Ethical Considerations
While the EU AI Act provides a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI systems within the EU, Cyprus is also developing national guidelines to ensure ethically sound and reliable developments in AI. The government is working on defining measures of transparency, responsibility, privacy, equality, diversity, and safety, among others, to preserve human rights and social values. To coordinate the development of ethical guidelines, the Cypriot strategy advocates the creation of a National Committee on Ethical and Reliable AI. This Committee will continuously monitor and analyse issues related to the use and development of AI technologies and provide recommendations for legal and ethical reforms. (AI Watch)
✅ Summary
National AI Strategy: Cyprus has developed a National AI Strategy focusing on research and innovation, public sector AI adoption, and fostering a vibrant AI start-up ecosystem.
AI Taskforce: An 11-member advisory body has been established to guide the development and implementation of AI in Cyprus.
EU AI Act Compliance: Cyprus is aligning its national framework with the EU AI Act, designating authorities to supervise and enforce compliance.
Ethical Guidelines: The government is developing national guidelines to ensure ethically sound and reliable developments in AI.(Cyprus Mail)
Cyprus is proactively positioning itself as a regional leader in AI innovation while ensuring that AI technologies are developed and used in a manner that respects fundamental rights and ethical standards.
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