Authored By: Amrita Kumari
Jharkhand Rai University
ABSTRACT
As we look at a country like Albania, it’s Developing more and more in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is Starting to play a bigger role in the governance and has become a part of everyday life. But there is a gap – Is Albania Ready to handle the effects of AI on society? The current laws and regulation in Albania aren’t strong enough to manage AI algorithms, especially when compared to international standards like the EU’s AI Act and the OECD Principles. The country does have some lost that search on AI-related issues, but it still lacks a clear and solid framework to deal with the specific challenges of AI governance.
Albania’s laws are struggling To keep up with the faster growth of AI technology, especially in area like data protection, cybersecurity, and algorithm development. Still, Albania has made some progress in aligning it’s data protection law with the GDPR.
INTRODUCTION
In September 2025, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama Introduces Diella, a virtual AI entity who works as the new State Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Diella mainly focused on the overseeing the public procurement process. Recently launched as an assistant on the e-Albania platform in 2025, Diella now handles many interactions related to government services .
The government believes that Diella will help reduce corruption and bring more transparency to public tenders by evaluating bids based on the data and rules stated in it’s system, which helps remove human bias. This initiative is seen as a big step towards addressing Albania’s long – standing corruption problem is one of the main obstacles to EU membership. The government also claims that all actions taken by Diella are under human supervision, with final responsibility remaining with the Prime Minister.
GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK AND EU ALIGNMENT.
Instead of the high-profile appointment, Albania’s Al governance framework is considered underdeveloped compared to other international standards. The existence of some legal acts, such as the Intersectoral Digital Strategy (2022-2026) and the Electronic Governance Law, stands out to experts as showing a lack of detailed provisions and enforcement mechanisms. In comparison with the EU AI Act, which mandates rules for Al systems, Albania’s legal framework seems vague and lacks measures like mandatory algorithmic impact assessments.
As compared to EU candidate countries, Albania is expected to align its laws with EU standards.
However, the introduction of Diella without any significant public consultation, prior notice, or development of a comprehensive regulatory framework has raised concerns among EU observers.
EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN ALBANIA
Albania’s digital transformation is advancing rapidly, but legal and policy challenges persist in ensuring compliance with international standards. The legal frameworks governing Albania’s digital governance model focus on e-governance, cybersecurity, AI regulation, and digital aspects. (1) Tamarai, S., ‘AI and Automated Decision-Making Regulations: Albania vs EU’ (2021) ResearchGate
COMPLIANCE WITH EU’s DIGITAL SERVICES ACT (DSA)
Out of 72 DSA-DMA-AIA rules analysed, 43 are found in Albania’s hard law, and 3 in soft law, indicating a certain level of compliance.
DSA-related provisions are present in Law no. 10128 ‘On Electronic Commerce’ and Law no. 54/2024 ‘On Electronic Communications’. These laws define responsibilities and obligations for intermediary service providers (ISPs) regarding content moderation, information transmission, and data protection. ISPs are mandated to designate contact persons for communication with authorities and are shielded from liability for transmitted information if they do not initiate transmission, modify content, or select recipients.
Oversight is provided by the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (EPCA). Areas needing improvement include establishing internal complaint-handling systems and disclosing information about advertisements, especially those targeting minors. (2) Scidev Center, DSADMAAIA in Albania (2024) https://scidevcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSADMAAIA-IN-ALBANIA
ALIGNMENT WITH EU’s DIGITAL MARKETS ACT (DMA)
Albania currently lacks specific rules on the functioning of the digital market for core platform services (CPS). Some DMA-related aspects are indirectly covered by general laws such as civil law procedures, personal data protection, and competition laws. The draft of the new law ‘On personal data protection’ aims to align with GDPR standards and includes provisions for data portability, a novelty in data subject rights.(3) Scidev Center, DSADMAAIA in Albania (2024) https://scidevcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSADMAAIA-IN-ALBANIA
INTEGRATION OF EU’s ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT (AIA) PRINCIPLES
The Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) is minimally addressed in Albania’s legal framework. Law no. 43/2023 ‘On Electronic Governance’ references AI for enhancing and innovating the digital economy through information and communication technology systems. (4) Scidev Center, DSADMAAIA in Albania (2024) https://scidevcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DSADMAAIA-IN-ALBANIA.
CONCERNS AND CONTROVERSY
The appointment of Diella, an Al algorithm, as a State Minister was debated regarding ethics, accountability, and political symbolism. A major concern is the accountability for flawed Al-driven decisions, especially since the Al may perpetuate existing issues if trained on biased data from a system with corruption problems, making it hard to deal with.
The matter has been referred to Albania’s Constitutional Court by opposition parties. Cybersecurity is also a risk, as Diella’s public-facing role, handling sensitive data, could make it a target for hackers. The potential reliance on foreign Al models raises questions about technological dependency, contrasting with the EU’s goal of strategic autonomy. Critics suggest the appointment might be more symbolic than substantive, potentially diverting attention from deeper governance issues through a “techno-solutionist” approach.
BROADER CONTEXT AND OUTLOOK
Several countries are exploring the use of Al in public administration. However, Albania’s decision to create an Al entity and assign it a ministerial-level position without a strong prior governance framework is unique. The Diella initiative could either serve as a model for transparent governance or as a warning against risky digital shortcuts. The implementation of stronger oversight, transparency, and accountability mechanisms will be closely watched as Albania pursues EU integration.
Albania has emerged as an unlikely global frontrunner in Al governance, following its historic decision in September 2025 to appoint Diella, an artificial intelligence system, as a cabinet minister. This initiative-aimed at reducing corruption in public procurement processes-has garnered significant international attention, with global stakeholders recognizing its potential to drive transformative change.
This development has sparked a crucial global discussion about the integration of Artificial Intelligence (Al) in government operations, emphasizing the need to ensure accountability and uphold ethical governance standards. As governments and international organizations increasingly explore the use of Al to enhance transparency and efficiency, Albania’s experience will likely serve as a key reference point.
THE AI MINISTER: DIELLA AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian -a virtual cabinet member created to bring transparency and integrity to public tenders. Aiming to make procurement “100% free of corruption,” Diella was welcomed as a bold step toward tackling one of Albania’s biggest obstacles – the corruption that’s held back its dream of joining the European Union.
In January 2025, the Al made its debut on the e-Albania platform. Shown as a woman wearing traditional Albanian dress, she helped people navigate government services online. When she was promoted to a ministerial role, it signalled real change – the government said it would slowly move public tender decisions onto the Al platform.
DIELLA: THE WORLD’S FIRST AI–MADE MINISTER
Albania has appointed Diella, the world’s first AI-made minister, marking a ground-breaking phase in the intersection of AI and government policy. Diella is an AI entity, not merely a human politician supported by AI tools, entrusted with governance responsibilities. This challenges long-standing political traditions and redefines possibilities for AI in politics. (5) AI in Smart Governance: Albania’s Diella Becomes First AI-Made Minister (aicerts.ai, 11 September 2025) https://www.aicerts.ai/news/ai-in-smart-governance-albanias-diella-becomes-first-ai-made-minister/convert
THE VISION AND GOALS OF AI IN SMART GOVERNANCE IN ALBANIA
AI in Smart Governance aims to automate administrative processes, reduce corruption through transparent systems, and enhance decision-making with real-time data analysis. It seeks to ensure policies reflect citizen needs through advanced feedback models . The initiative aims to prove that AI can enhance efficiency while maintaining fairness and accountability. (6) AI in Smart Governance: Albania’s Diella Becomes First AI-Made Minister (aicerts.ai, 11 September 2025) https://www.aicerts.ai/news/ai-in-smart-governance-albanias-diella-becomes-first-ai-made-minister/convert
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN AI POLICY LEADERSHIP
Entrusting governance to AI raises critical questions about ethical AI governance, including transparency, accountability, and bias. Concerns exist about how citizens will trust decisions made by an algorithm and who is responsible if an AI-driven policy fails. Albania’s government emphasizes strict ethical oversight, with human policymakers supervising and validating Diella’s decisions, balancing innovation with accountability. (7) AI in Smart Governance: Albania’s Diella Becomes First AI-Made Minister (aicerts.ai, 11 September 2025) https://www.aicerts.ai/news/ai-in-smart-governance-albanias-diella-becomes-first-ai-made-minister/convert
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR AI IN POLITICS
Albania’s experiment sets a precedent for broader adoption of AI in politics worldwide, inspiring other governments to explore AI in smart governance. Countries like Singapore, Estonia, and the UAE are exploring AI-powered governance systems, but Albania is the first to grant AI an official ministerial role. The global debate highlights a divide between ‘innovation-first models’ (like Albania’s) and ‘regulation-first models’ (like the EU and US). Experts predict that within the next decade, hybrid AI-human governance systems will become standard, AI will take on advisory roles in international diplomacy, and ethical AI frameworks will be prerequisites for government integration. (8) AI in Smart Governance: Albania’s Diella Becomes First AI-Made Minister (aicerts.ai, 11 September 2025) https://www.aicerts.ai/news/ai-in-smart-governance-albanias-diella-becomes-first-ai-made-minister/convert
CONCLUSION
Albania’s experience shows that managing Al isn’t just about the tech – it’s about teaming up, learning from each other, and making sure people still come first. Albania’s experience shows that managing Al isn’t just about the tech – it’s about teaming up, learning from each other, and making sure people still come first, showing where Albania’s legal system aligns with global standards – and where it still falls short. The study found that Albania has come a long way in growing its digital economy and setting up the foundations for Al development there are still major holes in the current regulations that need fixing if Al is to be governed properly.
The findings of this research show that using a multidisciplinary approach is key to effective Al governance, one that balances innovation and competitiveness with transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. To achieve this, Albania can learn from international best practices and standards set by the European Union, the United Nations, and other leading organizations.
