Greece is preparing major constitutional changes that would require artificial intelligence to serve human freedom and democratic society, marking an unprecedented effort to embed democratic oversight of AI into foundational law.
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined the proposed revisions to lawmakers from his governing center-right party, framing them as essential safeguards for future generations. The proposed amendment would establish that "Artificial intelligence shall serve the freedom of the individual and the prosperity of society, ensuring that risks are mitigated and that the advantages it provides are fully realized."
Mitsotakis emphasized the stakes of the decision, telling lawmakers: "It's very important that, in this process of constitutional revision, we take care of the world that will host our children." He identified AI alongside climate crisis, water protection, and renewable energy as defining challenges that require constitutional attention, stating: "This great revolution must also be constitutionally placed at the service of individual freedom and social well-being."
The Data Power Problem
Some constitutional experts in Greece argue that AI must be legally required to serve democracy because major private technology platforms now hold enough data and power to operate beyond effective public oversight. This concern reflects a structural imbalance: as private companies accumulate vast amounts of personal data and algorithmic decision-making power, democratic institutions lack adequate mechanisms to ensure these systems serve public interests rather than corporate profit.
Evripidis Stylianidis, the government's lead lawmaker on the constitutional revision, articulated this rationale to state radio Thursday. He said: "Many issues today are defined at the international level," and emphasized that "The protection and proper use of artificial intelligence touches all human rights in daily life and is something that must concern us in the constitutional revision." His framing suggests that without constitutional protections, AI deployment may proceed according to market logic rather than democratic values.
Broader Constitutional Changes
The AI provision is one of dozens of proposed changes to Greece's constitution. The revision would also expand postal voting access, increase mandatory schooling from nine to 11 years, and ban retroactive taxation. The lengthy revision process involves a series of votes by two successive parliaments and typically requires some cross-party support, indicating that the changes will require consensus beyond the governing party.
Greece's AI Adoption and Governance
Greece has been an eager adopter of AI and modern technology since emerging from a major financial crisis eight years ago. The government has upgraded border surveillance systems and rebuilt its tax administration using digital tools. A powerful government services platform now manages everything from obtaining a divorce to buying tickets for domestic soccer matches, demonstrating both the reach and the governance implications of AI systems in daily life.
Last month, the government unveiled plans for a full social media ban for children younger than 16, saying it was intended to pressure the European Union to adopt similar rules. This move reflects growing concern about private technology platforms' influence over young people and their data, underscoring why policymakers view constitutional protections as necessary.
Why This Matters:
Greece's proposed constitutional amendment represents a significant assertion of democratic authority over artificial intelligence. Rather than treating AI development as a purely market-driven process, the constitutional approach embeds public values—individual freedom, social prosperity, risk mitigation—into foundational law. This reflects a center-left perspective that major technologies affecting human rights and democratic governance require democratic oversight and legal accountability. The amendment acknowledges a structural problem: private technology platforms accumulate data and decision-making power that can operate beyond effective public control. By constitutionally requiring AI to serve human freedom and social well-being, Greece signals that democratic societies must actively shape how transformative technologies are deployed, rather than accepting market outcomes as inevitable. This approach has implications for how other democracies might address the concentration of technological power and the need for institutional safeguards protecting citizens' rights and democratic processes.