The Bottom Line
- New AI Compliance on the Horizon: Companies using or developing AI systems in Spain will soon face a dedicated national regulatory framework, requiring new governance structures, risk assessments, and compliance strategies.
- Modernized Reputation & Privacy Rules: An upcoming overhaul of the “Right to Honor” law will introduce updated legal risks and remedies for managing corporate and executive reputation in the digital age, impacting everything from social media to AI-generated content.
- A Proactive Legal Stance is Crucial: This legislative push signals Spain’s commitment to aligning its laws with the digital economy. Businesses must prepare for a more stringent enforcement environment for technology and online communications.
The Details
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the country’s highest judicial governing body, has officially approved its reports on two significant pieces of draft legislation. This is a mandatory and critical step in the legislative process, indicating that draft laws concerning Artificial Intelligence governance and the civil protection of reputation are formally advancing. While not yet law, this development sends a clear signal to the market: Spain is preparing to implement a modern legal framework for the digital era, and businesses should begin to prepare now.
The first piece of legislation focuses on establishing rules for the “good use and governance of Artificial Intelligence.” This move aligns Spain with the broader European push to create a trustworthy and human-centric AI ecosystem, complementing regulations like the EU AI Act. For CEOs and legal counsel, this means AI can no longer be treated as a purely technological or back-office function. The forthcoming law will likely impose obligations related to transparency, accountability, and risk management, particularly for high-risk AI applications in areas like hiring, credit scoring, or public services. Companies will need to build legal and ethical oversight directly into their AI development and procurement processes.
The second draft law aims to update the Organic Law on the Protection of the Right to Honor, Personal and Family Privacy, and One’s Own Image. The current law, dating back to 1982, is ill-equipped to handle the challenges of the internet, social media, and AI-generated deepfakes. This modernization is a direct response to the new ways reputations can be built or destroyed online. The updated law is expected to provide clearer and more potent legal tools for corporations and their executives to combat online defamation, false information, and malicious digital manipulation, while also setting new standards for responsible communication.
Source
Consejo General del Poder Judicial
