Greece has become the first European Union member state to establish a binding legal framework governing the use of artificial intelligence in secondary schools, unveiling the rules at the EU Education Ministers' Council in Brussels alongside a ban on social media access for children under 15 from January 2027.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki presented the framework, co-signed with Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, which mandates human oversight of all AI tools, strict data protection and explicit safeguards against deepfakes and misinformation in the classroom. Mrs. Zacharaki said the policy is fully aligned with the EU AI Act and GDPR.
The framework is designed to ensure AI augments rather than supplants teachers, with critical thinking and digital literacy embedded as core curriculum goals.
Greece is simultaneously rolling out a National Dialogue on secondary school reform and has integrated financial literacy into the public school syllabus.
On child online safety, Mrs. Zacharaki reminded the Council that the social media ban for under-15s — enacted in May 2025 and taking effect January 2027 — will be enforced through age-verification technology and the "Kids Wallet" digital tool, which allows parents to manage screen time and app access.
The Council session, themed "Building Bridges for the Future," adopted conclusions on the teacher's role in the AI era.
Mrs. Zacharaki also coordinated with Ireland and Lithuania on shared priorities for their upcoming rotating EU Council presidencies.