Italy’s government has drafted a bill which shows the country considering meting out stricter penalties for Artificial Intelligence-related crimes, including offenses such as market manipulation and money laundering.
A draft law bill obtained by Reuters on Tuesday has shed more light on the proposed measures aimed at addressing the growing influence of AI on criminal activities. The 25-article draft bill outlined essential principles concerning “research, experimentation, development, adoption, and application” of AI within Italy. It stressed that it’s important to manage AI’s impact on human rights and mitigate the economic and social risks associated with it.
While subject to potential revisions, the document contains plans for using AI tools in various sectors, notably in healthcare and the judicial system, with a particular focus on their implications for employment conditions. Additionally, the draft holds the groundwork for a national AI strategy.
In Italy’s bid to combat illicit activities, the proposed legislation has introduced heightened penalties for market manipulation conducted through AI tools. Moreover, it identifies the use of AI in money laundering schemes as an aggravating factor, signalling a tougher stance against financial crimes enabled by technology.
The draft also proposed fines for copyright violations perpetrated through AI-generated content. Individuals employing AI tools to create harmful deepfake videos, which aim to replace real persons, could face a prison sentence of up to three years.
Italy currently holds the rotating chair of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies, and has emphasised AI as a key agenda item for its 2024 presidency. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has highlighted the importance of AI, which will be a focal point during the leaders’ summit scheduled for mid-June.
To promote AI innovation, Prime Minister Meloni has also announced plans to establish an investment fund dedicated to supporting AI projects, with an initial funding of 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), potentially supplemented by an additional 2 billion euros from the private sector.
Italy’s cabinet is expected to endorse the initial version of the bill by the end of April, according to government sources. Subsequently, the proposal will undergo parliamentary scrutiny, allowing for further revisions before attaining final approval and enactment into law.
The issue of AI regulation has also gained traction within the European Union (EU), with the bloc progressing towards establishing the world’s first regulations governing the use of AI tools. These regulations will mandate compliance with specific transparency requirements and EU copyright laws.
