Albania's AI Minister Diella faces corruption and constitutional lawsuits
Albania's first AI Minister, Diella, faces multiple lawsuits and corruption allegations. The Democratic Party challenged its constitutional legality, while officials managing the system were arrested on fraud charges and an actress sued over unauthorized use of her likeness.
What happened
Albania introduced Diella in September 2025 as the world's first AI Minister, following its prior use as a chatbot on the E-Albania government portal. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that Diella would report directly to him and would be protected from nepotism due to its artificial nature.
Shortly after the introduction, the Democratic Party of Albania filed a lawsuit arguing that Albania's constitution requires the government to consist only of real persons, that an algorithm cannot be accountable to the public, and that Rama's decree violated separation of powers by creating a new ministerial structure outside the constitutional framework.
In December, the directors of AKSHI (the National Albanian Information Agency), which operates Diella, came under investigation by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime. Director Mirlinda Karçanaj and her deputy were placed under house arrest on suspicion of corruption and million-euro fraud.
Reported impact
Actress Anila Bisha filed a lawsuit claiming her face and voice were used without permission to create the AI avatar.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.