Italy Becomes the First EU Member to Pass Thorough Legislation on AI Use
The Italian parliament approved a new law on Tuesday that establishes comprehensive regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing keeping a human hand at the wheel.
The new law, Senate Act No. 1146-B, emphasizes a “responsible use of artificial intelligence, within a human-centric framework, aimed at seizing its opportunities,” according to a Google-translated version of the text from Italian to English. “It ensures oversight of the economic and social risks and the impact of artificial intelligence on fundamental rights.”
The Agency for Digital Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency will enforce the new law and related legislation passed by the European Union, since it is in alignment with the EU's AI Act, while Italy's Department for Digital Transformation will focus on developing a national AI strategy across the government.
The law introduces rules for the application of AI in several sectors, including education, the government and public offices, healthcare, sports, telecommunications, and more.
It also amends punishments for abusing AI or using AI systems with malicious intent. Anyone convicted of using AI to harm another person—such as with an AI-created deepfake image, video, or other product—faces a prison sentence of one to five years. Using AI illegally will also result in stricter prison sentences and financial penalties in crimes involving identity theft and fraud or disrupting a person’s civil or democratic rights.
Other measures in the law touched on the need to ensure transparency and security. For example, parental consent is required when anyone under the age of 14 wants to access AI solutions.
The law also takes a swing at copyright issues, stating that while works created with the help of AI are protected if the original idea comes from human intellectual effort, data mining and AI-authored text will only be allowed to be used for non-copyrighted content or authorized scientific research.
As part of the law, the government authorized a €1 billion ($1.18 billion) investment in small and medium-sized AI and cybersecurity enterprises.
Italy's parliament passed the law after roughly a year of debate and adjustments. It was approved in a 77-55 vote, with two abstentions.
