LEGAL NEWS IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Italy approves national AI law

On 17 September 2025, the Italian Parliament approved the national law on artificial intelligence (AI Law), making Italy the first EU Member State to adopt a comprehensive domestic framework aligned with Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act).

The AI Law dictates the general principles applicable to AI systems and models, such as transparency, proportionality, security, accountability, gender equality and non-discrimination.

Additionally, the AI Law includes sector-specific provisions for national security, healthcare and research, work and employment, judicial activity, public administration, and national cybersecurity.

Among other provisions, the AI Law introduces specific safeguards on data protection, requiring AI systems to process personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently, and to clearly inform users of how their data is handled. Particular attention is also given to minors: children under 14 may only access AI technologies with parental consent, while older minors may consent to data processing, provided that the information is accessible and comprehensible. The AI Law also addresses the media sector by requiring audiovisual and radio service providers to label non-fiction content that has been created or modified with AI, with the Italian Communications Authority (AGCOM) tasked to issue guidelines. Finally, the definition of authorship under Italian Copyright Law is amended to clarify that works generated with the aid of AI tools may be protected, provided that human contribution is necessary.

Oversight and enforcement functions are entrusted to the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) and the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), while sectoral regulators such as the Bank of Italy or CONSOB retain competence in their respective fields.

After the publication of the AI Law in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic and a 15-day vacancy period, the AI Law will formally enter into force, allowing Italian Government to issue legislative decree(s) on the adaptation of national legislation in relation to the AI Act, and introduce specific civil, criminal, and administrative provisions aimed at defining the consequences of unlawful use of AI systems.

Newsletter n. 110 – August/September 2025