MPs, government officials, independent authorities and academics expressed deep concern on Wednesday. They met at the Committee of Institutions and examined how artificial intelligence affects democracy and the rule of law, especially during elections.
Dr Vasiliki Triga, Assistant Professor of Political Communication at TEPAK, stressed the urgent need for updated laws. She said legislation must keep pace with AI developments.
Meanwhile, Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy reported that officials already work to align Cyprus with the EU AI Act.
Committee Chairman and DISY MP Demetris Demetriou raised the issue himself. He linked it to a major conference the House will host on 14-15 January at the Nicosia Conference Centre during Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency.
Mr Demetriou opened the discussion. He urged close coordination between Parliament and the executive branch for upcoming events. He highlighted key challenges: protecting fundamental rights, ensuring adequate citizen safeguards, and creating effective oversight mechanisms.
MPs repeatedly asked how well the state can defend against third-party interference via AI tools during election campaigns.
However, the Interior Ministry official present admitted she lacked specific information. She explained that the Elections Directorate handles the matter.
Dr Triga warned the committee that AI tools like ChatGPT do not serve as reliable advisors for voters. Their algorithms prioritise the most widespread online content, so they often favour larger parties.
A Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy official confirmed that the EU AI Act remains a top priority. Cyprus pushes national and European initiatives, especially during its Council Presidency term.
Experts currently conduct a techno-economic study. It will map the current situation in Cyprus, identify stakeholders and shape the legal framework. Officials seek a sustainable regulatory model.
When Mr Demetriou asked about the timeline for the harmonisation bill, the official replied that they target March 2026. A draft already exists.
Yet everything depends on the EU. Some member states request delays in applying the regulation, but the EU has not accepted that yet.
Authorities have already designated supervisory bodies: the Ombudsman, the Information Commissioner and the Personal Data Protection Commissioner.
Still, Oxygen for Democracy Vice-President Nicolas Kyriakides insisted Cyprus needs a new independent AI oversight authority. Existing bodies cannot handle the task alone.
Cyprus Radio-Television Authority officials added that they study the Digital Services Act. They prepare procedures and build a registry of supervised entities.
Media Observatory representative Nicolas Karydes urged stakeholders to keep humans in control of AI tools. He said journalists should use AI only for research, never for writing content.
Mr Karydes also doubted AI can restore public trust in media. Moreover, he called for strong news literacy programmes for all ages. Digital literacy alone no longer suffices with today’s social media landscape.
Dr Triga noted that the latest Eurobarometer ranks Cyprus among the top EU countries for using Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram as news sources. Cypriots exceed EU averages across all age groups, especially 18-24-year-olds.
She explained that heavy platform use makes Cypriots more critical of online content. Therefore, robust legal regulation matters most.
Even at EU level, she added, experts disagree: some prioritise rights protection, others fear restrictions will stifle innovation.
Cyprus Union of Journalists representative Giorgos Frangos defended professional self-regulation. He demanded clear safeguards for AI use in journalism. “We want human judgment over AI, not the reverse,” he said.
RIK Director General Thanasis Tsokos argued that everything depends on shared values between sender and receiver. People must spot fake news. RIK aims to boost digital literacy from early age and supports adding media education to school curricula.
Committee Chairman Demetris Demetriou closed by stressing citizen training to distinguish real from fake news, especially among youth.
Independent MP Alexandra Attalidou described Cyprus as “defenceless” ahead of elections. After the session she warned: “Today algorithms can shape public opinion, amplify disinformation or create convincing deepfakes that sway votes.”
She demanded transparent AI rules, zero tolerance for fake accounts and bot networks, and strict enforcement of the EU AI Act. “AI can strengthen our democracy – but only if we do not leave it in few hands,” she concluded.
Featured photo: Al Jazeera
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