Italy has passed legislation governing how the police can deploy AI tools, setting human oversight requirements and placing explicit limits on surveillance. It is in compliance with European regulations.

Italy’s cabinet approved the measure on Wednesday, making it the first legislation in the country to formally regulate the use of artificial intelligence by police forces. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi outlined its contents at a post-cabinet press conference.

“The goal is to provide police forces with the most advanced features to improve the efficiency of their operations,” he said. However, he stressed that the legislation is built around a single governing principle: AI assists, but does not replace, human judgment. “AI is a support tool, not an automated policeman: final decisions will always remain with humans.”

What the law permits and prohibits

The decree allows police to use AI both for crime prevention and in the aftermath of offences. In prevention contexts — including cases involving terrorism or human trafficking — deployment requires prior authorisation from judicial authorities. Piantedosi confirmed that safeguards apply in both scenarios.

On the question of surveillance, the minister was explicit, “There are no plans for mass surveillance or a generalised ‘Big Brother’ system, and the use of large biometric databases is prohibited.” The legislation also requires that the protection of personal and sensitive data be guaranteed throughout.

The European context

The decree brings Italy into compliance with European Union regulations on artificial intelligence, which impose risk-based requirements on member states regarding high-risk applications — of which law enforcement use is among the most tightly controlled categories.

In September 2025, Italy was the first EU bloc country to pass an AI law.