Italy Becomes the First EU Member State to Pass Comprehensive AI Law Aligned with the AI Act

Italy's parliament approved a new law regulating artificial intelligence in September 2025, making it the first comprehensive AI regulation in the European Union, aligned with the EU's landmark AI regulation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government stated that the legislation establishes human-centric, transparent and safe AI use as core principles whilst emphasising innovation, cybersecurity and privacy protections. The law introduces cross-sector rules covering healthcare, public administration, justice, education and sport, requiring traceability and human oversight of AI decisions.

Alessio Butti, the undersecretary for digital transformation, stated that the law brings innovation back within the perimeter of the public interest, steering AI towards growth, rights and full protection of citizens. The government designated the Agency for Digital Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency as national authorities on AI development. The law introduces new criminal provisions targeting unlawful dissemination of AI-generated content, such as deepfakes, punishable by between one and five years in prison if it causes harm, whilst illegal AI use will also lead to tougher penalties for offences including identity theft and fraud. On copyright, works created with AI assistance are protected if they result from intellectual effort, whilst AI-driven text and data mining is allowed only for non-copyrighted content or scientific research by authorised institutions. In healthcare, AI can assist diagnosis and care, but doctors retain final decision-making and patients maintain the right to be informed.

Meloni stated in March 2024 that there can and must be an Italian way when it comes to artificial intelligence, both for developing AI and governing AI. She characterised the technology as the greatest revolution of our time, which could only achieve its full potential if developed within a framework of ethical rules that focus on people and their rights. The law received its final approval in parliament after a year of debate, and Meloni's rightwing government views the legislation as a decisive move in influencing how AI is used across Italy.

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Italy first in EU to pass comprehensive law regulating use of AI

Legislation limits child access and imposes prison terms for damaging use of artificial intelligence

The GuardianAngela Giuffrida

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Italy enacts AI law covering privacy, oversight and child access | Mint

ITALY-AI/REGULATIONS:Italy enacts AI law covering privacy, oversight and child access

mintReutersPublished17 Sep 2025, 11:09 PM IST