Italy enforces new EU AI Act rules for doctors and image creators

On 4 August 2026 the Italian Council of Ministers approved two legislative decrees to implement the EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) in Italy. One decree makes AI training mandatory in the continuing education programme for healthcare professionals, defining the national governance framework and assigning oversight to the Agenzia per l'Italia digitale, the Agenzia per la cybersicurezza nazionale, the Garante, the Bank of Italy, Consob and Ivass. The other decree introduces transparency obligations for AI‑generated images, requiring clear labelling of fully AI‑created or manipulated content and the preservation of metadata. The rules affect photographers, graphic designers, communication agencies and ICT firms – more than 200 companies in La Spezia have been identified as directly impacted. Ginevra Masciullo of Confartigianato La Spezia said, “Artificial intelligence is a great opportunity, but it must be used responsibly and in line with the new rules,” while president Paolo Figoli added that entrepreneurs must become “protagonists of change and carriers of correct communication.” Both sets of obligations entered into force on 2 August 2026, with a principle of human oversight and a graduated sanction regime.