Albania created “Diella” to fight corruption. Then its creators were accused of racketeering

The avatar known as “Diella,” billed as the first female minister generated by artificial intelligence, was supposed to help Albania fight corruption. But then something unexpected happened. The leaders of the agency that developed “Diella” are now accused of misusing bids in public contracts, the prestigious “New York Times” in an article on Tuesday.

“Diella” made headlines around the world. She was seen as the face of Edi Rama’s government on its path to securing Albania’s membership in the European Union. She was also seen as a symbol of the inclusion of artificial intelligence in all parts of society, including governance.

In practice, Diella helps people apply for government services online, eliminating a system full of corrupt officials for faster document delivery and scheduling. It is also expected to soon be able to serve as a collection of government contract applications to assess which bidder is most qualified, based on the data submitted. Its work can be audited.

Rama had said that the goal of "Diella" is to reduce the level of corruption and provide transparency in public procurement.

“We are a country of cousins ​​– it is not easy to be totally fair and transparent in a country of cousins,” he said earlier this month. “Now we have a completely different picture.”

A November report by European Union officials said Albania had shown progress but that corruption remained widespread in sensitive sectors. It cited the creation of a special prosecution unit in 2019, which the report said had “produced positive results in combating high-level corruption.”

This includes the investigation into the National Information Agency, the government organization that created "Diella".

Last month, prosecutors announced they had placed the agency's director and deputy under house arrest, linking them to a criminal organization accused of manipulating contract applications through threats. The agency operates the government's digital infrastructure and has control over a wide sector of public online systems, including Diella.

The two officials have not yet been formally charged. Rama has said that "we have to wait and see."

This special unit, SPAK, has expanded its activities in recent years by arresting senior political figures including former President Ilir Meta, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, and Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

In a December analysis, experts from the German Council on Foreign Relations said that the AI-powered ministry had increased the efficiency and impartiality of public tender decisions. But overall, it was found that combating corruption according to EU standards still remains problematic.