The Bottom Line
- New AI Compliance Ahead: Spain is advancing its own national AI governance law. Businesses developing or using AI systems must prepare for a new layer of regulatory scrutiny and compliance obligations, likely complementing the EU AI Act.
- Modernized Reputation Protection: A forthcoming update to Spain’s “Right to Honour” law will address digital defamation, online privacy, and the use of personal images, creating new risks and remedies for corporate and executive reputation management.
- Legislative Momentum: The judiciary’s formal review of these bills is a critical step. Companies should now begin assessing the impact of these pending laws on their technology roadmaps, marketing strategies, and legal risk profiles.
The Details
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the governing body of the country’s judges, has officially approved its reports on two significant pieces of draft legislation. This step is a mandatory part of the legislative process for laws impacting the justice system. While the CGPJ’s opinion is not binding on Parliament, its approval is a strong indicator that these bills are legally sound and are moving forward, signaling a major evolution in Spain’s legal framework for technology and fundamental rights.
The first, a “Draft Law for the good use and governance of Artificial Intelligence,” aims to establish a clear national framework for the burgeoning AI sector. This legislation will create the necessary structures to enforce the EU’s AI Act within Spain, appointing supervisory authorities and outlining specific national procedures. For CEOs and legal counsel, this marks the end of the “wild west” for AI development. It heralds a new era of required risk assessments, transparency in AI-driven decision-making, and accountability for systems that impact individuals, setting the stage for direct corporate liability.
The second piece of legislation is a modern overhaul of a 1982 Organic Law protecting the “right to honour, personal and family intimacy, and one’s own image.” In an age of social media, deepfakes, and instant global communication, the existing law is struggling to keep pace. This new bill is expected to provide clearer, more effective civil remedies against online defamation and the misuse of images. For businesses, this will heighten the importance of robust social media policies and crisis management plans, as the legal avenues for individuals—and companies—to sue for reputational damage are set to become more defined and potent.
Source
Consejo General del Poder Judicial
