Artificial Intelligence law at Latvia
As of May 2025, Latvia is actively advancing its regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI), aligning with the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) and introducing national legislation to foster innovation while ensuring ethical and secure AI development.
🇱🇻 Latvia's AI Regulatory Framework
1. Alignment with the EU AI Act
Latvia is committed to implementing the EU AI Act, Europe's first comprehensive regulation on AI, which came into force on 1 August 2024. The Act classifies AI systems into four risk categories—unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal—and imposes varying levels of obligations accordingly. Latvia's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) is designated as the responsible authority for the Act's implementation, coordinating with the European Commission and other national bodies. (International Bar Association, Wikipedia, varam.gov.lv)
2. National AI Development Law (Bill No. 811/Lp14)
On 21 January 2025, Latvia introduced the "Law on the Development of Artificial Intelligence" (Bill No. 811/Lp14) to Parliament. This law aims to establish a legal framework for AI collaboration among public, private, and academic sectors, ensuring ethical, responsible, and secure AI applications. A key provision is the creation of the Latvian National Artificial Intelligence Centre, which will coordinate AI development, promote Latvian language integration in AI models, and operate a regulatory sandbox for testing AI systems. (DPA, DPA)
3. AI Strategy and Ethical Framework
Latvia's AI strategy, released in February 2020, focuses on promoting AI adoption across the economy, particularly in public administration. The strategy emphasizes raising AI awareness, fostering public-private-academic partnerships, and developing a robust legal and ethical framework. The government plans to integrate AI topics into education reforms and invest in digital infrastructure to support AI development. (Knowledge for Policy, reviewofailaw.com)
🏛️ Governance and Oversight
VARAM: Oversees the implementation of the EU AI Act and coordinates with European authorities.
Ministry of Economics: Acts as the notifying authority, liaising with the European Commission and informing it about conformity assessment bodies and procedures.(varam.gov.lv)
Latvian National Accreditation Bureau: Serves as the national accreditation body.(varam.gov.lv)
Ombudsman: Functions as the authority for the protection of fundamental rights under the AI Act.(varam.gov.lv)
Market Surveillance Bodies: Various agencies, including the Consumer Rights Protection Centre and the State Data Inspectorate, are responsible for monitoring compliance with the AI Act. (varam.gov.lv)
🔍 Key Considerations
Ethical AI Development: Latvia emphasizes the importance of ethical AI, focusing on transparency, accountability, and public trust.
AI Literacy: The government aims to enhance AI literacy across society through education reforms and public awareness campaigns.(Knowledge for Policy)
Regulatory Sandbox: The establishment of a regulatory sandbox allows for the testing of AI systems in a controlled environment, facilitating innovation while ensuring compliance with legal standards.
Latvia's approach to AI regulation reflects a balanced strategy that promotes innovation while safeguarding ethical standards and public trust.
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