FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Edi Rama's project for a virtual minister faces criminal charges against developers and a crisis of credibility
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama had big plans when he appointed a chatbot to his cabinet. But it is now becoming clear that the system is not proving effective in the fight against corruption. Ironically, its creators themselves are suspected of fraud, writes an article in the Swiss newspaper NZZ.
According to journalist Nicole Anliker, Edi Rama presented “Diella” as a system that never sleeps, does not receive a salary and has no personal interests, considering it incorruptible. The virtual minister took responsibility for public procurement, with the task of independently comparing bids in tenders through algorithms. The government claimed that this would guarantee processes completely free of corruption, a widespread problem in this sector.
The prime minister described her as his “daughter” and stressed that, unlike humans, she has no family ties that could lead to nepotism. Her appointment attracted international attention, as “Diella,” whose name means sun in Albanian, was introduced as the world’s first virtual minister.
The move was part of a broader strategy to lead Albania towards European Union membership by 2030, where the fight against corruption remains a key requirement. However, just six months after its launch, the project is facing serious challenges, including credibility issues and a court case.
According to the government, “Diella” was introduced on January 19, 2025, as a virtual assistant on the state-owned E-Albania platform, helping citizens with online administrative procedures. She then received a visual avatar that could communicate, appearing as a woman in traditional clothing from northern Albania.
The chatbot was developed by the National Agency for the Information Society (AKSHI), in collaboration with Microsoft. However, in December, the agency's director and her deputy were placed under house arrest by the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime.
They face serious criminal charges, including involvement in a criminal organization that manipulated public tenders. According to the indictment, they favored related companies and used threats to drive out competitors. It is reported that 5 to 10 million euros were diverted from these actions.
The scandal has significantly damaged the credibility of “Diella”. Critics argue that the system is part of the same mechanism and cannot serve as a solution against corruption. From the beginning, the opposition and constitutional law experts opposed the initiative, describing it as propagandistic and contrary to the Constitution.
" From the beginning, when Rama introduced this innovation, the opposition protested, calling the initiative unconstitutional and propagandistic. Lawyers and experts also raised concerns about the lack of transparency.
It is not clear:
-what data feeds artificial intelligence,
-who programs and supervises it,
and on what criteria it makes decisions.
Its code is not public. There is also criticism of its lack of legal status: no one knows who bears legal and political responsibility in case of wrong or illegal decisions. This creates the risk that politicians or officials will shift the blame for cases of corruption to artificial intelligence.
However, the prime minister is not backing down from the criticism. He continues to support the virtual minister. On the government's official website, Diella is presented as part of the cabinet, just like real ministers.
In fact, at the end of October, Rama declared: "Diella is pregnant with 83 children". These "children" are new chatbots that will serve as assistants for MPs, will participate in meetings, take notes and give them advice , "the article says.
Despite the criticism, Rama has stated that he will continue with the project. On the official government website, “Diella” appears as part of the cabinet. He has also announced the expansion of the initiative with dozens of new chatbots that will assist MPs in their work, participating in meetings and offering advice.
Meanwhile, another legal challenge comes from Albanian actress Anila Bisha, who provided the voice and image of the avatar. She has sued the government, claiming that the use of her image as a “virtual minister” was done without her consent and beyond the initial agreement. She is seeking an injunction to stop the use of the image until the end of the legal process.
The government spokeswoman has described the lawsuit as unfounded. /Adapted from Pamphlet /
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