The implementation of the AI ACT legislation, which was supposed to be adopted and implemented on August 2, 2026, is postponed and postponed until August 2, 2028. This was the information received today from the Legal Service of the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament, according to what was stated by the president and MP of AKEL, Christos Christofides at today's session, during which the debate on Digital Human Rights continued, an initiative that aspires to be the basis for the modernization of the Cypriot state in the face of the great challenges of the digital age.
As stated in the Legal Service note, "as the provisions on high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) systems were due to enter into force on 2 August 2026, the co-legislators gave the highest priority to the consideration of this part of the package and agreed on a set timeline for the delayed implementation of the high-risk rules. The new implementation dates are set at 2 December 2027 for high-risk autonomous AI systems and 2 August 2028 for high-risk AI systems embedded in products."
'Notwithstanding the direct effect of EU regulations, it is necessary to introduce implementing laws into the national legal order for the purposes of implementing certain provisions of the regulations. In any case, it should be noted that the process of introducing an implementing framework for this regulation must closely and in parallel follow all decisions, implementing measures and directives taken at the level of the European Union."
It is noted that the aim of AI ACT is to ensure the safety, ethical nature and reliability of Artificial Intelligence systems. The rules impose obligations on providers and implementers of AI technologies and regulate the licensing of AI systems in the EU's single market. The Regulation addresses AI-related risks such as bias, discrimination and gaps in accountability, promotes innovation and encourages the uptake of AI.
How is the Deputy Ministry proceeding?
Asked to answer whether there is strategic planning for which legislation should be changed and when, in order to ensure the protection of digital human rights by 2028, Diamantis Zafeiriadis, Head of the Digital Security Authority, said that at this stage the identification of the laws has not begun. However, he explained, "we are in the phase of preparing a techno-economic study, with the aim of determining the organizational, technical, operational and human resources required for the effective implementation of the regulation." In the end, he added, "there will also be a mapping of digital rights and what involvement we will have, either direct or indirect". "We inform and guide the market, we develop partnerships with other competent national and European authorities, including the EU Artificial Intelligence Council. We are also preparing the procedures for market surveillance to ensure the effective implementation of the obligations of the regulation," he clarified.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nikodimos Damianou, hastened to clarify that the techno-economic study is at an advanced stage, there is a consultant who has evaluated the legislative framework and is in the process of preparing the national implementation law. As he announced, a draft has already been circulated between the competent authorities and "we are at the stage where we will go to public consultation of the legislation concerning the implementation of the AI ACT". The goal, he stressed, is for the process to be completed by the end of the year, to pass through the Legal Service and then to go to Parliament. "We know the timetables and we are trying to speed up the process as much as we can to be consistent with our obligations," he noted.
To appoint an informal ad hoc working group
However, with the completion of the series of meetings of the Human Rights Committee on the issue, the intention is to proceed with the appointment of an informal ad hoc working group, whose mission will be to prepare a first draft Declaration of Digital Human Rights. The goal, Mr. Christofides explained, is for this draft to be put before the Committee in the autumn, so that the discussion acquires specific content, is completed through dialogue with all stakeholders and then leads to the Plenary Session of the Parliament for adoption.
At another point, Mr. Christofides invited the Legal Service to participate in the informal group, a representative of which reserved a written position at a later stage, however, he stated that he agreed with this initiative. He pointed out that an indicative list of 10 pieces of legislation that may need to be amended has already been prepared, while changes to individual legislation may also be required. Besides, the representative of the Legal Service referred to a "nice example" – as she described it – of how the Republic of Cyprus can contribute to the development of European legislation. "When we proceeded at the national level with the addition of the offense of sexual abuse with artificial intelligence systems, the Cyprus Presidency, in the context of a revision of the EU directive on combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, raised the issue of adding this offense to the European directive itself, which is under consideration."
AI in education from September
It is worth noting that the session was also attended by the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michailidou, who presented the policies, actions and planning of her Ministry in the areas related to digital rights. As he made known, from next September, a separate course on artificial intelligence will be introduced in Primary and Secondary Schools. He clarified that the Ministry works at the level of mentality and culture with programs and training seminars. At the same time, she works at the level of content and curricula that seek to cultivate digital skills from preschool age. He added, European funds are being used for the technological equipment of schools, new IT laboratories are being created, while the IDEA project for the digital administration of schools is also being promoted. At the same time, experts from all over Europe were used and "we have in our hands a text on artificial intelligence that is already being used in schools".
