Croatia in Preparation for AI Law
On May 28, 2025, an important event was hosted in Croatia, focusing on the human rights impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The gathering aimed to raise awareness of the potential harms associated with AI and to influence future national policy regarding the implementation of the EU AI Act.
Context of the Event
The event, organized by Politiscope, brought together journalists and activists to discuss the implications of AI technologies. As Croatia prepares a national law to implement the EU AI Act, the timing of this meeting is crucial. Key decisions, including the designation of the enforcement authority, are still pending, making it an opportune moment to address AI-related harms and advocate for the incorporation of human rights safeguards into national legislation.
Risks Associated with AI
The opening of the event served as a stark reminder of the potential dangers technology poses to individuals’ daily lives without proper regulation. Vanja Skoric, Program Director at EDRi member ECNL, emphasized that AI can threaten privacy, equality, and other fundamental rights. Ella Jakubowska, Head of Policy at EDRi, introduced initiatives like Protect Not Surveil and Reclaim Your Face, which aim to protect individuals from the harms of AI technologies, especially against biometric mass surveillance.
Several speakers shared real-world examples illustrating the harm caused by AI systems. Jelle Klaas discussed how strategic litigation in the Netherlands resulted in the removal of discriminatory algorithms used by banks for terrorism profiling. Meanwhile, Filip Milošević highlighted the successful efforts of civil society in halting the rollout of biometric surveillance in Serbia. Nađa Marković presented concerning findings about how automated systems unfairly deny social benefits to vulnerable groups, while Marija Renić explained the subtle ways social media algorithms can influence parenting practices. Tamara Zavišić warned about the lack of transparency and accountability in corporate definitions of values and safety embedded in AI models.
Path Forward: Embedding Human Rights in AI Governance
During the event, Duje Prkut introduced the EU AI Act, emphasizing how Croatia’s forthcoming national law will shape the future of AI governance. A panel consisting of experts from the Croatian Data Protection Agency, SHARE Foundation, and Politiscope discussed the necessity of exceeding the EU AI Act’s minimum requirements.
Maja Cimerman presented the Register of Public Use of AI, a tool that aims to enhance transparency by documenting the use of AI in public institutions, thus enabling public oversight and accountability. Such initiatives demonstrate that proactive, citizen-centered solutions are not only possible but effective.
Recommendations for Croatia’s AI Governance
Politiscope proposed several recommendations for enhancing Croatia’s AI governance, which include:
- Public register of all AI and algorithms used by public and state administration.
- Ban on live biometric surveillance in public spaces.
- Meaningful participation of civil society in developing the national AI legal and policy framework.
- Designating the Data Protection Authority (DPA) as the single market surveillance authority to enforce the AI Act in Croatia.
Democratizing AI Policy: A Call for Openness and Participation
Politiscope has submitted its recommendations to the working group under the Ministry of Justice, Judiciary, and Digital Transition, responsible for drafting the implementing act for the EU AI Act. Notably, neither Politiscope nor any other civil society organization has been included in this working group, despite expressions of support for their inclusion from the Data Protection Authority, the Ombudsman, and the leading private sector AI association, CroAI.
As legislative and policy-making processes in Croatia become increasingly centralized and opaque, CSOs remain significantly under-represented. Efforts are underway to promote and ensure civil society participation in decision-making processes regarding digital rights, including the AI Act. Politiscope is committed to advocating for more inclusive and transparent legislative and policy processes.
This thematic conference organized by Politiscope marked the first AI-specific live event in Croatia led by an NGO or watchdog organization, representing a modest yet significant step towards fostering a safe, transparent, and ethical approach to the development and use of AI.
