In 2019, Lithuania's Ministry of Economy and Innovation released a national AI strategy focused on ethical development and use of AI. The strategy outlines four key principles: advising the public sector on ethical AI regulation and implementation, establishing trust in AI governance, encouraging transparency and fairness in AI applications, and promoting ethics by design.
The strategy recommends creating an AI ethics committee to monitor impacts on fundamental rights. It also calls for developing public feedback mechanisms on AI regulations and recognising AI understanding as a new civic skill.
In 2022, Lithuania launched an AI Development Action Plan for 2023-2026 with three main objectives: improving conditions for AI ecosystem development, increasing AI use across public and private sectors, and creating conditions for AI innovation.
As an EU member state, Lithuania is subject to key EU AI initiatives. The Digital Services Act (DSA) regulates online platforms to prevent illegal content and disinformation, while the AI Act establishes a risk-based framework for AI regulation.
Lithuania has also participated in Nordic-Baltic cooperation on AI, signing declarations on ethical AI development and digital inclusion. The country contributed to negotiations on the Council of Europe's AI convention and endorsed international statements on responsible military use of AI.
Lithuania enforces the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has national laws implementing the Law Enforcement Directive on data protection in criminal matters. Citizens have rights to information about automated decision-making under the GDPR and Council of Europe Convention 108+. A 2020 Council of Europe recommendation emphasises algorithmic transparency, especially for high-risk systems.
While Lithuania's strategy acknowledges the importance of public input, implementation has been limited. No public consultations on AI were found on the government's central platform, and the AI development plan involves consulting NGOs but not the broader public. There is no centralised website for AI policies and public engagement.
"Lithuania has room for improvement in expanding public participation beyond NGOs to include the public," the report notes.
Lithuania has made progress in developing an ethical AI framework aligned with European initiatives. However, the country faces challenges in fostering public engagement and establishing robust oversight mechanisms as AI deployment accelerates.
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/