TLDR: Italy has become the first European Union nation to enact a comprehensive artificial intelligence law, aligning with the EU’s landmark AI Act. The new legislation, approved by parliament, establishes human-centric, transparent, and safe AI use as core principles, covering areas from privacy and cybersecurity to child access and criminal provisions for AI-generated content.
Italy’s parliament has officially approved a groundbreaking new law regulating artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone as the first European Union country to implement comprehensive AI regulations in line with the EU’s overarching AI Act. The legislation, spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, emphasizes human-centric, transparent, and safe AI use as fundamental principles, alongside a strong focus on innovation, cybersecurity, and privacy protections.
The new law introduces extensive cross-sector rules impacting various critical domains, including healthcare, work, public administration, justice, education, and sport. A key requirement across these sectors is the mandate for traceability and human oversight of AI decisions, ensuring accountability and human control over automated processes. Furthermore, the law specifically addresses child access to AI technologies, stipulating that individuals under the age of 14 will require parental consent to utilize AI systems.
Alessio Butti, the undersecretary for digital transformation, commented on the legislation, stating, “This (law) brings innovation back within the perimeter of the public interest, steering AI toward growth, rights and full protection of citizens.” This quote underscores the government’s intent to balance technological advancement with societal well-being and individual rights.
To oversee AI development and implementation, the government has designated the Agency for Digital Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency as national authorities. Existing watchdogs, such as the Bank of Italy and market regulator Consob, will also retain their powers in this evolving landscape.
A crucial aspect of the new law includes robust criminal provisions targeting the unlawful dissemination of AI-generated content. Specifically, the creation and distribution of deepfakes that cause harm can lead to imprisonment ranging from one to five years. Additionally, illegal AI use will result in tougher penalties for offenses like identity theft and fraud, reflecting a proactive stance against potential misuse of AI technologies.
Regarding intellectual property, the law stipulates that works created with AI assistance will be protected if they are the result of intellectual effort. AI-driven text and data mining will be permitted only for non-copyrighted content or for scientific research conducted by authorized institutions.
Financially, the law authorizes up to 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) from a state-backed venture capital fund. This funding is earmarked for equity investments in small-to-medium enterprises and large companies actively involved in AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, and telecoms. However, critics have voiced concerns, suggesting that the allocated resources are modest when compared to international initiatives in the AI sector.
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In the healthcare domain, AI is permitted to assist in diagnosis and care under specific conditions, with doctors retaining final decision-making authority and patients maintaining their right to be informed. For workplaces, the law mandates that employers must inform workers when AI is being deployed, promoting transparency in the adoption of AI tools.
