Italy approves AI governance decrees to implement EU AI Act

Italy has approved two legislative decrees to align national regulations with the European Union's AI Act. These measures redefine the country's AI governance: the Agenzia per l'Italia Digitale (AgID) will serve as the notification authority, while the Agenzia per la cybersicurezza nazionale (ACN) will act as the supervisory authority and point of contact.

The decrees introduce a regulatory sandbox, rules for AI use in policing—including facial recognition systems—and new standards for civil and criminal liability regarding damages caused by AI systems.

Critics, including digital policy expert Luigi Gambardella, argue that while these measures are necessary for regulatory compliance, they lack a cohesive industrial strategy. The current framework is noted for failing to coordinate public investment, supercomputing capacity, and the growth of an AI-related manufacturing sector, contrasting with the massive infrastructure and computational resource investments seen in the United States and China.