Spain: Announced Law on cybersecurity including AI regulation

On 29 January 2024, the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation announced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation in the proposed Law on cybersecurity. The Ministry recognises the increased need for AI regulation and the promotion of the ethical use of AI in regard to cybersecurity. The Ministry decided on six strategic axes for AI regulation. These axes relate to the supercomputing capacity of Spain in various supercomputing centres, the variety of languages in Spain, and talent attraction for the development of AI. Further, the Ministry noted the intention to develop a digital toolkit to promote access to AI for small and medium enterprises and self-employed, which relates to the remaining three strategic axes. These consist of the consolidation of industrial applications, specifically in areas such as healthcare or energy, the Next Tech fund to finance the implementation of innovative technology in companies, and the development of a responsible and ethical AI.