THE BOTTOM LINE
- New AI Compliance is Coming: Businesses developing or using AI systems in Spain should prepare for a new governance framework. This will likely involve new requirements for risk assessment, transparency, and accountability, mirroring but potentially adding to the EU AI Act.
- Digital Reputation Rules are Being Modernized: The draft law on the “right to honour” will update decades-old legislation for the internet age. Companies will face new liabilities and duties regarding online content, personal data usage in marketing, and digital defamation.
- Legislative Momentum is Building: The approval of these reports by Spain’s top judicial body is a critical step in the legislative process. While not the final word, it signals that these new regulations are moving forward, and businesses should begin reviewing their internal policies now.
THE DETAILS
Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the governing body of the country’s judges, has given its formal assessment of two highly anticipated draft laws. By issuing its official reports, the CGPJ has completed a mandatory procedural step, pushing both the new Artificial Intelligence governance law and a modernized “right to honour” law closer to parliamentary debate and enactment. While the Council’s opinions are not legally binding on the legislature, they are highly influential and often shape the final text of the laws, providing a clear signal to the business community about the future regulatory landscape.
The first piece of legislation under review is the draft “Law for the Proper Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence.” This law aims to create a national framework to manage the opportunities and risks associated with AI. For CEOs and legal counsel, this means anticipating new obligations concerning the deployment of AI in business operations—from automated hiring tools and customer-facing chatbots to sophisticated data analysis platforms. The regulation is expected to focus on establishing clear lines of responsibility, ensuring algorithmic transparency, and creating a risk-based compliance system, particularly for high-risk AI applications.
The second, equally significant proposal is a new Organic Law on the “Civil Protection of the Right to Honour, Personal and Family Privacy, and Self-Image.” This law is set to overhaul a foundational 1982 statute, adapting it to the realities of the digital era. The reform will address modern challenges such as the rapid spread of misinformation, the use of deepfakes, and the management of a person’s digital legacy. For businesses, this will have direct consequences on advertising, social media content moderation, and data processing, strengthening the legal grounds for individuals to seek redress for reputational harm caused online.
SOURCE
Source: Consejo General del Poder Judicial (CGPJ)
