In the rapidly changing world of technology, the use of artificial intelligence is now being legalized. Italy was the first country in the European Union to take this step with comprehensive decisions.
Italy breaks new ground in artificial intelligence
A new law passed by the Italian Parliament establishes a set of rules and sanctions that consider both the innovations that artificial intelligence brings to human life and its potential risks.
This law, supported by the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, emphasizes the human-centered, transparent, and safe use of artificial intelligence, while also placing special emphasis on innovation, cybersecurity, and privacy protection.
One of the most controversial provisions of the law is the requirement that parental consent be required for children under the age of 14 to use artificial intelligence tools. This provision is a direct response to recent concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on child development and privacy.
The penal sanctions introduced by the law are also quite harsh. If fake content, known as deepfakes, is generated using AI and maliciously disseminated, offenders can face prison sentences of one to five years.
Furthermore, penalties increase by one-third for crimes such as fraud, identity theft, market manipulation, and money laundering. Alessio Butti, the government’s Secretary of State for Digital Transformation, explained the law’s aim as “to bring AI back into the public interest and ensure growth, rights, and the full protection of citizens.”
The law introduces oversight and transparency not only for individual use but also for applications in the public and private sectors. It requires traceability and human oversight for AI applications in areas such as healthcare, education, justice, public administration, and sports.
It emphasizes that humans must have the final say in diagnostic and treatment decisions, particularly in healthcare. In the business world, employers must inform their employees about AI technologies.
