Italy has become the first country in the European Union to adopt a comprehensive law regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new legislation, aligned with the EU’s historic AI Act, introduces strict measures against the misuse of AI technologies.
According to international media, the law includes prison sentences for individuals who create or distribute deepfakes, as well as for those who use AI for digital fraud or to cause harm.
A key feature of the legislation is the protection of children, restricting their access to platforms that use AI in uncontrolled or potentially harmful ways.
The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, emphasized that the law represents a decisive step in shaping how AI is used in the country.
“Italy is showing the way forward for the entire EU,” the government statement reads.
The law also establishes state supervisory bodies tasked with monitoring and regulating AI development and usage in accordance with the new legal framework.
Italy’s move comes as the European Union prepares to implement the AI Act, aiming to ensure the ethical and safe use of AI across the continent.
