By Elvira Pollina and Angelo Amante
MILAN/ROME (Reuters) -Italy’s government is mulling tougher penalties for crimes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools including market rigging and money laundering, a draft law bill seen by Reuters said on Tuesday.
The 25-article draft bill lays down general principles “on research, experimentation, development, adoption and application” of AI in Italy, to cope with “the impact on fundamental rights” and related economic and social risks.
The document, whose content is still subject to change, envisages use of such tools in the health sector and in the judiciary, focusing on its impact on job conditions. It also sets the ground for a national AI strategy.
The draft beefs up penalties for market rigging through AI tools and rules the use of artificial intelligence for money laundering represents an aggravating element.
It also sets out fines for copyright violations through AI and a jail term of up to three years for those who employ such tools to replace other persons, potentially targeting harmful deepfakes.
Italy currently holds the rotating chair of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said AI would be among the key issues of the 2024 presidency which will culminate in a leaders’ summit in mid-June.
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Angelo Amante; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
