What’s new for AI: How Czechia is implementing the EU’s AI legislation
With the rise of AI, the European Union introduced regulations to standardize some rules for its use. The so-called Artificial Intelligence Act introduces significant changes for all companies and employers using AI systems across the EU. So, what does this new legislation seek to accomplish, and what is Czechia doing to implement it?
Under the AI Act, it is completely forbidden to use artificial intelligence to manipulate public opinion or to create databases with biometric data, such as people's facial features. Artificial intelligence used in critical infrastructure, banks and other financial institutions, or medical devices, for example, falls into the high-risk category. Companies and institutions falling into the high-risk category need to ensure that AI is supervised by a human or regularly test its security, as Lukáš Benzl, director of the Czech Association of Artificial Intelligence, explains:
“There must be a high level of transparency, and AI also requires a certain level of AI literacy for every employee using an AI tool. It's crucial to ensure that people are aware they are working with AI and understand the potential consequences of that.”
Jan Tomíšek, an attorney and partner at ROWAN LEGAL, recommends that larger companies and institutions in particular implement the new role:
“While it's not mandatory, we believe it's practical to centralize this responsibility with someone who is familiar with all the major AI use cases in the organization. This person should be able to assess, classify, and determine where responsibilities lie to recognize areas where responsibilities exist and where they may not.”
The rules will be simpler for companies that only use AI for, say, routine office work. But they still have to inform their clients that they are communicating with AI. The regulation will be fully implemented by August 2026, and EU member states are currently drafting their own laws to align with it.
The Department of Commerce will not add any regulations beyond the EU regulation so as not to create more red tape. At the same time, the ministry is dealing with possible adjustments at the European level, says Deputy Minister Jan Kavalírek:
“What we're concerned about is that it should not become more strict, as we can already see tendencies in the current draft that go beyond the scope of what is supposed to be a recommending document. So far, the Ministry has prepared a strategy for drafting the law, but the government has yet to approve it.”
The ministry then wants to discuss the standard with representatives of companies and the opposition so that it can be approved by the current cabinet. However, the chances of the law reaching MPs before the election are slim. The new government will most likely renegotiate it.
The ANO party has no fundamental problem with the law. But according to its deputy chairman, Karel Havlíček, regulations in the field of artificial intelligence should be kept to a minimum.
“We should realize that we are not a country of giants, but rather a country of small and medium-sized companies, and that we should make it more pleasant, accessible, and, if possible, less intimidating. I understand the need for caution in the face of a threat, but we should not turn it into an authoritative objective, as it is not just one of the biggest problems in Europe today. Let's allow the market approach to set the standard.”
Zdeněk Zajicek, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Civic Democratic Party politician, agrees. According to him, it is also necessary to clarify at the European level how the authorities that will supervise compliance with the regulation will function. In Czechia, the Czech Telecommunications Office will be responsible for this, which Zajíček believes is a good choice.
“The Czech Telecommunications Office wants to act in a predictable manner. This means that it carries out regular consultations so that companies can prepare themselves for what might await them if they do not comply with the rules. In some cases, we could certainly expect sanctions, but they will not come as a surprise.”
The Czech Telecommunications Authority should also allow companies to test whether the artificial intelligence they want to use meets the conditions of the regulation. Havlíček disagrees with the Czech Telecommunications Office's supervision. In his opinion, the authority does not have the capacity and the Ministry of Industry should be in charge.
