Italy publishes decree naming AI Act enforcers, penalties and a regulatory sandbox
Italy published Legislative Decree 179/2026, which sets out the national authorities, powers and penalties for applying the EU AI Act. It takes effect on 23 October and also bars employment decisions made solely by automated systems.
Italy's Official Gazette published Legislative Decree no. 179 of 7 October 2026 on October 8. It aligns Italian law with the EU AI Act on the powers of national authorities and the use of AI in education and training, and enters into force on 23 October 2026.
It is the second decree implementing Italy's AI law, Law no. 132 of 2025. The decree sets out which authorities supervise AI, their powers and penalties, and creates a regulatory sandbox managed by AgID and ACN that prioritizes small businesses and start-ups.
The decree also includes employment protections: final decisions on hiring, changes to or termination of employment, disciplinary measures and performance evaluations cannot be based solely on automated processing, and decisions taken in breach of that rule are void.