Colombia advances AI and data bills

Colombia’s First Chamber of the House of Representatives has logged Statutory Bill No. 154 of 2024, a proposal that would define and regulate artificial intelligence, adjust human rights standards, and partly amend Law 1581 of 2012. The same committee also lists Statutory Bill No. 156 of 2023, which addresses the general personal data protection regime and is marked as scheduled.

What does the legislative status of these bills show?

The parliamentary record shows both texts are still moving through the First Chamber committee. Bill 154 of 2024 appears as an initiative that would modify the personal data protection framework, while Bill 156 of 2023 is identified more specifically as a personal data proposal tied to Law 1581 of 2012.

The scheduled status of Bill 156 of 2023 indicates it is still awaiting debate on the committee agenda. That detail matters because both files point to updates in rules that affect data processing and the limits for developing, using, and implementing artificial intelligence systems.

What is the scope of the initiatives?

Bill 154 of 2024 has a broader scope because, in addition to regulating AI, it also includes explicit references to human rights and changes to Law 1581 of 2012. Bill 156 of 2023, by contrast, focuses on the general personal data protection regime.

In practice, the two initiatives are linked by the same legal framework for personal data. That makes them relevant for compliance programs, especially in organizations that collect, process, or make decisions using automated systems.

What do experts say about approval?

A specialized legal analysis from PPU Legal says that short-term approval of the bills seeking to update Law 1581 of 2012 and regulate AI is seen as uncertain or unlikely, according to experts consulted.

That assessment adds caution to the pace of the legislative debate, even though the initiatives are already registered in the First Chamber and part of the parliamentary process.