Italy, from October 23rd new rules for Artificial Intelligence

Starting October 23, 2026, new rules will come into force in Italy for companies that use or develop artificial intelligence systems. Legislative Decree 179/2026, published in the Official Gazette on October 8, introduces specific protections for workers regarding automated decisions and workplace safety, along with a structured system of controls and penalties.

The measure also establishes a national 'regulatory sandbox,' a controlled testing environment. In this setting, companies, with priority given to SMEs and startups, will be able to develop and test new AI solutions under the supervision of the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) and the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), to facilitate their market access.

The regulation of artificial intelligence is a process initiated at the European level with the AI Act, a regulation establishing common rules for all member states. Italy, with the national framework law no. 132 of September 2025, provided an initial reference framework. Decree 179/2026 represents the next, more detailed step, implementing the mandates provided by that law to adapt Italian legislation to European provisions.

The goal is to balance innovation and control. On one hand, the aim is to promote technological development and the competitiveness of businesses, especially smaller ones, through instruments such as sandboxes. On the other hand, protections for citizens and workers are introduced, defining responsibilities and supervisory procedures. The implementation path for the European rules is gradual: while some parts of the AI Act are already in force, the main requirements for high-risk systems will take effect between 2027 and 2028.