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Albania Appoints AI Bot “Diella” as Minister to Oversee Public Procurement

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Albania has broken political ground by appointing an AI-generated bot named Diella as its new minister of public procurement, tasked with awarding and managing government tenders.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, beginning his fourth term, introduced Diella on Thursday, describing her as the first cabinet member to exist only virtually. “Diella will make Albania a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption,” he said.

Public procurement has long been one of Albania’s most corruption-prone areas, tied to scandals involving money laundering by organized crime networks. Experts say graft within state contracts has also slowed Albania’s EU accession ambitions, which Rama hopes to achieve by 2030.

Who is Diella?

  • The name means “sun” in Albanian.

  • She debuted earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens and businesses access official documents.

  • Diella appears dressed in traditional Albanian attire, provides support via voice commands, and can issue documents with electronic stamps, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Skepticism and Risks

While Rama hailed Diella’s incorruptibility, critics have raised questions about:

  • The extent of human oversight, which the government has not clarified.

  • The potential for AI manipulation or hacking, which could undermine the anti-corruption mission.

  • Public skepticism — one social media user quipped, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania.”

Political Context

The new parliament, elected in May, is set to convene on Friday, though it remains uncertain if Rama’s government lineup will be formally approved immediately.

If implemented effectively, Diella could mark a world-first experiment in AI-led governance. But whether an algorithm can untangle entrenched corruption in Albania remains an open question.

European Securities Regulator Warns Crypto Firms Against Misleading Customers on Regulation

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Europe’s securities regulator, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), issued a warning on Friday to crypto companies about misleading customers regarding the regulatory status of their products. The caution comes as European authorities intensify efforts to curb risks associated with crypto assets.

Under the EU’s new crypto regulation framework, known as MiCA, a series of investor protections are in place, including rules on safeguarding client assets and managing complaints. However, ESMA highlighted concerns over crypto asset service providers (CASPs) offering both regulated and unregulated products on the same platform, which poses risks to investors who may not clearly understand which products fall under MiCA’s protections.

ESMA pointed out that some CASPs might exploit their regulated status as a marketing tool, potentially confusing customers about which services are regulated. The regulator stressed that firms must not use their MiCA licensing as a promotional device or suggest that all crypto offerings are covered by the EU’s rules when they are not.

Products outside MiCA’s regulatory scope include direct investments in commodities like gold and crypto lending services.

The move follows global regulatory concerns about crypto investor risks, especially after the collapse of major crypto platforms such as FTX in 2022, which resulted in significant investor losses.

MiCA requires companies offering crypto services to obtain a license from national regulators, enabling them to operate across the EU. ESMA also issued guidance on the knowledge and competence standards that staff should meet to properly assess crypto companies.

ESMA’s warning coincides with the release of a peer review on Malta’s licensing process for crypto firms. The review found that while Malta’s Financial Services Authority has sufficient expertise and resources, its authorization procedures only “partially” met expected standards. Malta defended its role as an early adopter of digital asset regulation but did not directly respond to ESMA’s critique.

Concerns have been raised behind closed doors about the rapid pace at which some EU member states grant crypto licenses, according to previous Reuters reports.

EU’s Top Court Adviser Supports Italy in Meta Platforms Copyright Dispute

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An adviser to the European Union’s highest court stated on Thursday that EU member states have the right to implement their own measures to strengthen the position of news publishers in negotiations with large online platforms, provided these do not infringe on freedom of contract.

The dispute under review by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) involves Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, and Italy’s communications regulator AGCOM. The case centers on a fee that Meta must pay Italian publishers for using snippets of their news articles.

Meta challenged whether national measures like Italy’s are compatible with rights granted to publishers under EU copyright law. However, CJEU Advocate General Maciej Szpunar argued that EU copyright rules aim not only to protect publishers from unpaid use of their content but also to ensure they receive a fair share of revenue generated by platforms.

Szpunar emphasized the public interest behind these rules, describing them as efforts to support the economic viability of the press, which he called “a key pillar of democracy.”

Meta said it will await the court’s final ruling but expressed concerns that Italy’s implementation of the directive undermines the goal of copyright harmonization in Europe. A Meta spokesperson warned that inconsistent legislation can hinder innovation and create uncertainty.

The adviser also noted that Italy’s regulator must respect contractual freedom. Szpunar said AGCOM’s powers—such as setting remuneration benchmarks, resolving disputes, and monitoring information—are acceptable if they serve only to assist and do not restrict the parties’ freedom to contract.

The CJEU is expected to issue its decision in the coming months, and it often aligns with the advocate-general’s recommendations.