Italy has become the first country in the European Union (EU) to adopt a comprehensive law to regulate the use of artificial intelligence, including prison sentences for misuse of the technology and restricted access for children.
The law foresees prison sentences of one to five years for illegally distributing content generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence if it causes harm, such as “deepfake” photos and videos.
It will also introduce tougher penalties for using the technology to commit crimes, including fraud and identity theft, as well as stricter transparency and human oversight rules governing how the technology is used in the workplace or in sectors such as health, education, justice and sport.
Children under 14 will need parental consent to access artificial intelligence.
When it comes to copyright, the law stipulates that works created with the help of artificial intelligence are protected if they result from genuine intellectual effort.
The Italian government said in a statement that the law, aligned with the EU’s AI Regulation, will have a significant impact on the way artificial intelligence is used across Italy, The Guardian reports.
Its aim is to ensure the transparent and safe use of AI with a human focus, while promoting innovation, cybersecurity and privacy.
Undersecretary for Digital Transformation Alessio Butti said the law “returns innovation to the public interest, directing artificial intelligence towards growth, rights and the full protection of citizens”.
The government has appointed the Digital Italy Agency and the National Cybersecurity Agency to implement the law, which received final approval in parliament after a year of debate.
The law allocates up to €1 billion from a state fund to support companies active in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and telecommunications, although critics say the sum is small compared to the funds invested by the US and China.
