Croatia Faces AI Law Pushback From Rights Activists

Croatia is preparing to implement new artificial intelligence regulations, prompting concerns from digital rights activists who argue that the proposed framework may fall short of protecting fundamental rights. While the country aligns its legislative efforts with the European Union’s AI Act, campaigners are urging Croatian lawmakers to adopt additional safeguards that go beyond the EU-wide standard.

Activists warn that without stronger national provisions, the rollout of AI systems could pose significant risks to privacy, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination. They advocate for increased transparency, public oversight, and stricter accountability measures to ensure AI technologies do not infringe on civil liberties.

The European Union’s AI Act, currently serving as the foundation for Croatia’s regulatory approach, introduces a risk-based classification system for AI applications. However, rights groups argue that relying solely on this framework may not be sufficient to address the unique challenges facing Croatian society, and are calling for a more robust, rights-centric implementation strategy.