Page 86 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Italy Enacts AI Law Covering Privacy, Oversight and Child Access

Italy's parliament approved a new law covering artificial intelligence, by authorized institutions. The law authorizes up to 1 billion euros
making it the first European Union country with comprehensive AI ($1.18 billion) from a state-backed venture capital fund for equity
regulations aligned with the EU's landmark AI Act. Prime Minister investments in small-to-medium enterprises and large companies
Giorgia Meloni's government spearheaded the legislation saying active in AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and telecoms.
it establishes human-centric, transparent and safe AI use as core Critics have said the resources being made available are puny
principles while emphasizing innovation, cybersecurity and privacy compared with international initiatives. In healthcare, AI can assist
protections. The law introduces cross-sector rules covering diagnosis and care under conditions, with doctors retaining final
healthcare, work, public administration, justice, education and decision-making and patients' maintaining the right to be informed.
sport, requiring traceability and human oversight of AI decisions. For workplaces, the law requires employers to inform workers
It also limits AI access for under-14s to parental consent. "This when AI is being deployed.
(law) brings innovation back within the perimeter of the public
interest, steering AI toward growth, rights and full protection
of citizens," said Alessio Butti, the undersecretary for digital
transformation. The government designated the Agency for Digital
Italy and the National Cybersecurity Agency as national authorities
on AI development, while watchdogs including the Bank of Italy
and market regulator Consob retain their powers. New criminal
provisions target unlawful dissemination of AI-generated content,
such as deepfakes, punishable by between one to five years in
prison if it causes harm. Illegal AI use will also lead to tougher
penalties for offenses including identity theft and fraud. On
copyright, works created with AI assistance are protected if they
result from intellectual effort, while AI-driven text and data mining
is allowed only for non-copyrighted content or scientific research

UK Agrees £400M Defence Deal with Google Cloud

integrated service”, providing resilient and secure networks. The
Defence Review recommends the UK’s armed forces make moves
to modernize networks and embrace the latest technology to help
“outmatch hostile actors”. Google Cloud has pledged to recruit a
specialist dedicated team in the UK to manage the technology,
as the government pointed to advanced defence capabilities to
create economic growth. Defence Secretary John Healey said the
Google Cloud deal “shows how defence is an engine for growth,
supporting highly skilled UK jobs and a vibrant British tech start-
up ecosystem”. Several media outlets have reported OpenAI
and Nvidia are expected to announce a large AI investment in
the UK, also coinciding with Trump’s visit. The UK government
struck a deal worth £400 million with Google Cloud to provide the
The UK government struck a deal worth £400 million with country’s armed forces with AI, data analytics and cyber security
Google Cloud to provide the country’s armed forces with AI, technology, in a move that strengthens collaboration with the US
data analytics and cyber security technology, in a move that ahead of a visit by President Donald Trump. The UK government
strengthens collaboration with the US ahead of a visit by President stated defence intelligence and national security specialists will
Donald Trump. The UK government stated defence intelligence use Google Cloud’s latest technology to “share secure information
and national security specialists will use Google Cloud’s latest between our partners and outcompete our adversaries”. UK’s
technology to “share secure information between our partners and Ministry of Defence played a key role in securing the country,
outcompete our adversaries”. UK’s Ministry of Defence played a key added a government statement, which will further strengthen
role in securing the country, added a government statement, which secure communication links between the nation and US, in addition
will further strengthen secure communication links between the to an existing intelligence and security partnership. The tie-up
nation and US, in addition to an existing intelligence and security with Google Cloud also delivers on a key recommendation from
partnership. The tie-up with Google Cloud also delivers on a key the Strategic Defence Review for a “digitally integrated service”,
recommendation from the Strategic Defence Review for a “digitally providing resilient and secure networks.

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