The Italian Republic Becomes Pioneer in European Union to Enact Extensive Legislation Regulating Use of Artificial Intelligence

Italy has become the initial country in the EU to approve a sweeping law overseeing the use of artificial intelligence, including imposing jail sentences on those who employ the innovation to cause harm, such as generating deepfakes, and limiting child access.

The rightwing administration stated that the legislation, which complements the EU’s landmark AI Act, is a decisive move in shaping how artificial intelligence is utilized across Italy.

The goal is to promote “human-centric, transparent and secure AI use” while emphasising “progress, cybersecurity and privacy protections”.

The bill introduces incarceration terms of between one and five years for the unauthorized distribution of artificially created or altered content if it causes harm.

There will also be stricter sanctions for using the technology to commit offenses, including fraud and identity theft, and stricter transparency and human oversight guidelines regulating how the technology is used in offices as well as in a variety of industries such as medical care, schooling, justice and sport.

Furthermore, minors under the age of 14 will need parental consent to use artificial intelligence.

When it comes to intellectual property, the regulation specifies that works created with artificial intelligence support are protected if they originate from authentic intellectual effort, while artificially powered text and data mining will only be allowed for non-copyrighted content or scientific research by approved institutions.

A state representative said that the act “brings innovation back within the scope of the common good, steering AI toward development, freedoms and complete safeguarding of individuals”.

The government has appointed national agencies to enforce the law, which obtained its final approval in the parliament after a year of discussion.

Addressing the theme of AI last year, the leader said: “There should and will be an Italian way when it comes to AI, an domestic method to advance AI and an local strategy to regulate artificial intelligence.”

She viewed the technology to be “the greatest transformation of our time”, but added it could only achieve its maximum capabilities “if it is developed within a structure of moral guidelines that prioritize people and their entitlements and requirements”.

The legislation permits up to €1bn from a government-supported venture capital fund to support companies active in AI, cybersecurity and communications, although critics contend the sum is modest compared with investments being made by global powers.