In 2019, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade released the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), setting out a framework to support AI development across academic, public and private sectors. The strategy aims to improve national economic growth and competitiveness in AI through seven key objectives:
1. Promoting research and development activities
2. Financing R&D, investment support, and ecosystem development
3. Creating public service infrastructures and providing data access
4. Upgrading human capital and the educational system
5. Measuring AI's impact on labor systems and markets
6. Addressing legal, societal and ethical aspects of AI
7. Engaging in international cooperation
The NAIS identifies responsible ministries, policy initiatives, cooperating entities, and targets for 2021, 2027 and 2035 across areas like education, R&D support, financing, industry, social impacts, regulation and international cooperation.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade are directly responsible for NAIS implementation, coordinated through a newly established AI Committee. This committee, a subcommittee of the Digital Czech Republic Steering Committee, includes responsible ministries competent to coordinate specific strategy areas.
Working groups are assigned to each of the NAIS's seven key objectives, with annual progress reports submitted to the Steering Committee and Czech Government.
While the NAIS addresses legal, societal and ethical aspects of AI, it does not specifically mention "Fairness," "Accountability," "Transparency," or "Rule of Law." However, it does reference maintaining high protection of fundamental rights and a human-centric AI approach.
The Czech Prime Minister stated an intention to focus on protecting individuals' rights and privacy, preventing discrimination and misuse of AI, and setting rules for algorithmic decision-making.
As an EU member state, the Czech Republic is subject to the EU AI Act and Digital Services Act. However, the country has advocated for a cautious approach to AI regulation, emphasising the need to balance innovation with protective measures.
In a 2019 position paper, the Czech Republic recommended refraining from initial overregulation of AI, promoting self-regulation and soft-law approaches, and defining "horizontal red lines" to ensure fundamental rights protection and legal certainty.
The Czech Republic joined 13 other EU member states in urging the European Commission to push for minimal regulation in AI to balance rule-setting with rapid development.
The Czech Republic is subject to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has implemented the EU Data Protection Law Enforcement Directive through its 2019 Personal Data Processing Act.
As a Council of Europe member, the Czech Republic has signed but not yet ratified the modernised Convention 108+ for personal data protection.
The country has several human rights oversight bodies, including the Government Council for Human Rights and the Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman).
The Czech Republic has endorsed the OECD AI Principles and UNESCO Recommendation on AI Ethics. In 2022, it joined the Global Partnership on AI and hosted the first Global Forum on the Ethics of AI under its EU Council Presidency.
The country has also participated in international discussions on autonomous weapons systems, endorsing calls for responsible AI use in military domains.
The Czech Republic's AI strategy reflects its ambition to become a European digital leader within a decade. While committed to human-centric AI through international principles, the country has consistently advocated against "overregulation," seeking to remove perceived legal barriers to AI development.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/