Earlier this year, the Slovenian Parliament passed the amendment to the Public use of Slovene language Act (ZJRS-B), which aims to ensure the use of Slovene language in the internet age by requiring all operational systems (OS) and user interfaces on all devices sold in Slovenia to offer Slovene language options.
The first part of the amendment (new Article 11, ZJRS) requires all information society service providers and providers of online intermediary services based in Slovenia to offer their services in Slovenia in Slovene language, except if they offer their services exclusively to foreign users. While operators of concession networks and networks subsidized from public funds in Slovenia must ensure that the presentation and advertising on their websites is done in Slovene language.
The Slovenian Government will also encourage foreign providers of online intermediary services to use Slovene language in their interaction with Slovenian users and Slovenian Authorities.
While the first part of the amendment mostly affects online service providers based in Slovenia, the second part (new Article 15.a) could have more far-reaching consequences. Namely, all operational systems, user interfaces and voice intermediaries installed on the electronic devices sold in Slovenia, must have an option for users to interact in Slovene language (and Slovene alphabet) in a manner that is equal in functionality in any other available language options. In other words, there must be no functional limitations for users using the device in Slovene language configuration.
Graphical user interfaces must comply with this requirement by 27 October 2025, while voice interfaces (e.g. Siri, Alexa) must comply by 27 October 2026.
What remains to be seen is what electronic devices are covered by the new standards since the Slovenian Ministry for Culture (Ministry) is preparing a comprehensive list of all electronic devices that must comply with Slovene language interface requirements. The list will be prepared by 27. April 2025.
The Ministry is the competent regulatory authority overseeing the above-mentioned regulatory implementation, and the penalties for non-compliance can range from EUR 3,000 to EUR 40,000 for legal entities, EUR 500 to 10,000 for physical persons and EUR 250 to EUR 2,500 for responsible persons of legal entities.
