Italy has become the first EU country to pass a comprehensive AI law. It regulates use of artificial intelligence and includes criminal penalties for misuse.
The legislation, which was first announced in March 2024, aligns with the EU’s landmark AI Act. It introduces prison sentences of one to five years for spreading harmful AI-generated content, such as deepfakes.
Harsher penalties apply when AI is used to commit crimes, including fraud or identity theft. The law also sets strict transparency and oversight rules for workplaces and sectors including healthcare, education, justice, and sport.
Children under 14 will need parental consent to access AI.
Regarding copyright, works created with AI support will be protected if they show genuine intellectual effort. AI-driven text and data mining will only be permitted for non-copyrighted content or authorised scientific research.
Alessio Butti, undersecretary for digital transformation, said the AI law “brings innovation back within the perimeter of the public interest, steering AI toward growth, rights and full protection of citizens.”
The Agency for Digital Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency will enforce the legislation.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called AI “the greatest revolution of our time.” She said it can only achieve its potential “within a framework of ethical rules that focus on people and their rights and needs.”
The law also authorises up to €1bn from a state-backed venture capital fund to support AI, cybersecurity, and telecom firms. Critics argue the amount is small compared with investments in the US and China.
