We-News AI news portal faces Italian journalist order complaint

We-News is an Italian‑language online news site that publishes articles written entirely by artificial‑intelligence agents rather than human journalists. The portal mimics the layout of traditional newspapers, assigning fabricated names, photos and specializations to its AI "authors". It is operated by AZ Medias Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom but presented as based in Hong Kong.

The National Council of Italian Journalists has filed a formal complaint with the communications regulator AGCOM and the Ministry of Justice, asking that the site be examined for possible administrative seizure. The complaint cites the portal’s failure to register with the court, the absence of a legally recognised editor‑in‑chief, and the broader risk of pseudo‑information that can undermine public debate. The Italian National Press Federation and the Trentino‑Alto Adige journalists’ union have lodged similar complaints, warning that foreign‑owned AI news services threaten democratic discourse.

Analysts note that We-News has already produced noticeable errors, such as mismatched images that place inland towns on coastlines. The venture follows earlier Italian experiments with AI‑generated media, like the pet‑focused site PetStory.it, highlighting growing regulatory concerns about fully automated news production.