1. Risk Rating  
  2. AI regulation in your jurisdiction
  3. Existing Regulatory Frameworks Applicable to AI
  4. Regulatory Oversight of AI 
  5. AI Guidance, Policies, and Strategic Frameworks  
  6. International AI Standards and Guidelines 
  7. Forthcoming AI Legislation 
  8. Useful links

jurisdiction

Bulgaria
Add jurisdiction

Risk Rating  

Medium.

AI regulation in your jurisdiction

The Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 - Artificial Intelligence Act (“EU AI ACT”) applies directly in Bulgaria as EU member state.

Existing Regulatory Frameworks Applicable to AI

Bulgaria however does not have a dedicated AI law.  

The local laws that apply directly or indirectly to AI-related activities include:

  • Copyright:
    • Copyright And Related Rights Act: Establishes the text and data mining exception for AI training using copyrighted content.
  • Data protection:
    • Personal Data Protection Act: Establishes obligations for processing personal data, including by AI systems.  
  • Cybersecurity:
    • Cybersecurity Act: Establishes obligations for risk management, incident notification, and technical/organizational measures for significant and important entities, which also covers AI systems when they are part of critical or vital services/sectors.
  • Employment:
    • Labour Code: Applicability of AI-powered HR solutions, transparency requirements for employees in AI monitoring/evaluation, health and safety at work.
  • Consumers:
    • Consumer Protection Act: Applicability towards AI-generated misleading and aggressive commercial practices.
  • Discrimination:
    • The Protection Against Discrimination Act protects against direct/indirect discrimination, which is key in AI algorithmic decisions (hiring, credit, access to services) for any type of social scoring.
  • Competition:
    • Competition Protection Act: Applicability towards AI pricing algorithms that may distort competition.

Regulatory Oversight of AI 

Bulgaria has yet to designate its market surveillance and notifying authorities under the EU AI Act.

AI Guidance, Policies, and Strategic Frameworks  

There is a “National Strategy on AI 2030” which was passed in 2020, but since it is rather outdated, the Government is preparing an update to the document. A draft of the update is yet to be published for public consultations.

International AI Standards and Guidelines 

The local AI legal framework is expected to implement the EU AI Act. 

Forthcoming AI Legislation 

A draft bill of “AI Implementation and Development Act” was submitted with the parliamentary commissions for discussions and assessment.

The draft bill has so far received negative feedback.

The expected timeline is unclear.