Italy Enacts Sweeping AI Law, First in EU to Do So

Italy Enacts Sweeping AI Law, First in EU to Do So
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Italy has become the first European Union country to pass a comprehensive national law on artificial intelligence, according to reports from multiple sources including The Economic Times. The new legislation, spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, aligns with the EU’s broader AI Act while introducing specific national provisions.

The law is built on principles of human-centric, transparent, and safe AI use, and aims to balance innovation with strong privacy and cybersecurity protections. It introduces rules that apply across various sectors, including healthcare, justice, education, and public administration, mandating traceability and human oversight for AI decisions. A significant provision requires parental consent for AI access for children under the age of 14.

To enforce the new regulations, the government has designated the Agency for Digital Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency as the primary authorities. The law also establishes new criminal penalties, including prison sentences of one to five years for the unlawful dissemination of AI-generated content like deepfakes that cause harm. Stricter penalties will also be applied for using AI to commit crimes such as identity theft and fraud.

On the economic front, the law authorizes up to 1 billion euros from a state-backed venture capital fund to support companies in AI, cybersecurity, and related technologies, though some critics argue this amount is insufficient compared to international investments. The law also clarifies copyright, stating that works created with AI assistance are protected only if they result from genuine human intellectual effort.