Italy's AI Act Decree Takes Effect October 23

Legislative Decree 179/2026 from the Italian Government takes effect on October 23, aligning national rules with the European Union AI Act, according to Il Sole 24 Ore. It names the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) as the national notifying authority and designates the authorities that will supervise the market.

AgID and the National Cybersecurity Agency will set up a task force for an Italian regulatory sandbox where companies, startups and developers can test AI systems under supervision before releasing them. The framework also supports cooperation with regional authorities and sectors including defense, justice and financial technology.

AgID will impose administrative fines for violations. Maximum penalties range from 1 million euros or 0.5 percent of global annual turnover to 35 million euros or 7 percent of global annual turnover, depending on the violation.

Workers must be made aware of AI's role in decisions affecting them, and no such decision may be delegated exclusively to AI. Employers must include AI systems in their workplace risk assessment documents. The decree also sets out education on responsible AI use and compulsory continuing training for several regulated professions, though Il Sole 24 Ore notes it comes with no new funding.