Concerns were voiced on Wednesday by MPs, government representatives, independent authorities and academics during a meeting of the House Committee on Institutions regarding the impact of Artificial Intelligence on democracy and the rule of law, especially during election periods.

Associate Professor of Political Communication at CUT, Vasiliki Triga, highlighted the need to update the legislative framework to address challenges posed by AI. The Deputy Ministry of Innovation stated that steps have begun to harmonise Cyprus with the EU’s AI Regulation.

The matter was examined ex officio following a proposal by Committee Chair and MP Dimitris Dimitriou, ahead of the January conference organised in the context of Cyprus' EU Council Presidency. Mr Dimitriou stressed the need to protect fundamental rights, ensure citizen and user safety, and establish an effective oversight mechanism.

MPs raised concerns about the state’s preparedness against attempts to influence pre-election information flows through AI tools. The Interior Ministry official said the Elections Directorate is responsible for this issue and that relevant information was not available at the meeting.

Dr Triga added that AI tools such as ChatGPT are not reliable election advisors, as algorithmic outputs tend to favour larger political parties based on available online content.

A representative of the Deputy Ministry of Innovation noted that a techno-economic study is underway to map the current situation, identify stakeholders and shape the legal framework. A draft harmonisation bill is expected by March 2026, though timelines depend on EU decisions. Supervisory authorities designated so far include the Commissioner for Administration, the Commissioner for Information, and the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.

NGO Oxygen for Democracy urged the establishment of an independent AI supervisory authority rather than assigning responsibilities to existing bodies. The Cyprus Radio-Television Authority said it is preparing procedures related to the Digital Services Act and creating a registry of supervised entities.

In the media sector, representatives stressed that AI should only assist in preparatory journalistic work and not in writing, and emphasised the need for news literacy across all age groups.

Eurobarometer data shows Cyprus among the highest users of Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram for news, particularly among people aged 18–24. Dr Triga noted that this extensive use increases user scepticism but also underscores the urgency of regulatory clarity.

The Cyprus Union of Journalists reiterated the need for safeguards ensuring human oversight of AI. CyBC highlighted the importance of digital literacy education in schools. Committee Chair Dimitriou added that citizens must be trained to recognise false information, with focus on the younger generation.

MP Alexandra Attalidou described Cyprus as “unprotected” ahead of elections, warning that algorithms and deepfakes can influence public opinion. She called for transparency in AI use, strict enforcement of EU rules and zero tolerance for fake accounts and bot networks.