A fresh attempt is being made to gag bloggers in Italy. See October 2012 update below.
While the world worries about the consequences of global economic collapse, Italy’s hard partying Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has other things on his mind, aside from an ever increasing list of court cases, that is. Now, he is determined to shut Italy’s bloggers up.
Nestling within proposed legislation which is sure to make an essential contribution to perking up Italy’s ailing economy by protecting the privacy of goodness knows whom, is an insidious little clause which will allow offended parties (read Berlusconi and friends) to slap as much as a €12,000 fine on bloggers who write something which is not liked. Just to be fair, said bloggers will have 48 hours to change offending articles.
UPDATE: 26 October 2012
The blogger gagging proposal is up before Italy’s parliament once again – except this time the proposed fine has risen to a whopping €25,000!
This is all because a Berlusconi friend ran an article which was untrue. The newspaper editor concerned, Alessandro Sallusti, was found guilty of defamation and sentenced to 14 months in prison. Italy’s Cassation court confirmed the conviction and sentence, but the ‘journalist’ is not yet behind bars.
Now, to protect friendly journalists, Italy’s defamation laws are to be changed and at the same time, a clause designed to shut up Italy’s bloggers has been slipped in.
This is a threat to freedom of speech which is a basic human right.
End of update
It is unclear as to just what will be considered ‘offensive’ which probably means the rules will be adapted to each case.
Italy’s rag tag bunch of politicians are awfully sensitive about what is said about them, even if it is true.
Criticism and something which is known as ‘satire’ in other nations simply is detested Italy – attempts at satire are regarded as insulting, unless, of course, Berlusconi and Co make them. And Berlusconi does like to tell jokes. Some are no doubt wondering whether Italy’s austerity package is in reality, one of Berlusconi’s old jokes.
No Vacations for Bloggers
Bloggers who’ve gone off for a two week break in Australia would only find out about the error of their ways upon their return, as one doubts that the Italian authorities would consider something as logical and simple as sending a blogger an email. Nope, it’d have to be a registered letter – which, knowing Italy’s snail mail service would arrive well after the 48 hour deadline had passed. Time to fork out €12,000, but probably less, depending on what was said about whom and how offensive it was deemed to be.
Fined bloggers would have several years to appeal their cases through Italy’s slow moving court system, provided they can afford to pay a lawyer, that is.
Needless to say, some Italians are up in arms over this latest anti freedom of speech proposal.
Antonio di Pietro, an opposition MP has labelled the move as ‘fascist‘. Even someone from within Berlusconi’s own party does not think gagging bloggers is a great idea.
Italy’s bloggers are girding their loins for an attack on those politicians who find the right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by Article 21 of Italy’s constitution so irritating.
2011 Protest in Rome
An anti-gagging protest has already been planned for September 29th 2011 in Rome around the Pantheon. Other protests will take place all over Italy.
By the way, this is not the first time Italian governments have tried to dissuade its citizens from blogging – see here: Italy’s Politicians Try to Ban Blogs, again
Oh, and there remains the small issue of the Europe’s economy collapsing and that this may lead to a global meltdown, but such minor matters do not seem to concern Italy’s billionaire playboy Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
It’s one of those “Only in Italy” moments.
Photo credit: Gagged blogger by Alex Roe.
P. Gallagher says
Alex,
Your post on the potential gagging order for bloggers is great.
Many people are unaware that Italy has now been categorized by Freedom House and Reporters without Borders as no longer having a free press. Italy is ranked 61 and falling. They are one point ahead of the Central African Republic. The recent sentencing of the journalist Alessandro Sallusti to 14 months for libel is absolutely abhorrent.
My parents were Italian and I still spend a lot of time there. I love the country. It saddens me to see the awful state of politics and corruption. The anti libel or calumnia laws go to the very heart of the problem – people cannot express themselves, journalists cannot investigate. In the end the citizen gives up, works, does what he is told, and pays his taxes.
Please, please, give this issue as much publicity as you can.
Silvia says
Tomorrow, 90 years will have passed from the infamous Marcia su Roma that enabled Mussolini to take the power here in Italy. It is sad that after 90 years there are still people in this country who, at every chance, are trying to shut up the mouth of the free citizens. Thank you for this post because the Italian main newspapers – Corriere, Repubblica.. – are totally avoiding of talking about this law against bloggers. As Twitter is considered by many to be “microblogging”, if we follow this rule I wil have to close my twitter account, and many other Italians with me. I will try to spread the word about this proposed law sharing this page via Facebook. Ciao, Silvia
Oliver Lawrence says
Your implication that, in a time of economic crisis, a government should not be legislating on any non-economic matters seems a bit idiotic. And I wouldn’t place any faith in what Di Pietro (whose policies begin and end with loathing Berlusconi) has to say.
Alex Roe says
Hi Oliver,
“Your implication that, in a time of economic crisis, a government should not be legislating on any non-economic matters seems a bit idiotic.” Depends what non-economic matters. You will be aware that Italy’s credibility is very much on the line these days. Genuine, constructive legislation is always welcome – what is being proposed is merely another way of keeping someone out of unfriendly spotlights – again, as I imagine you are aware.
As for Di Pietro, who appears to loath Berlusconi as much as Italy’s Prime Minister dislikes freedom of speech, well, I’m curious to know just what is motivating him. I’m afraid the recent championing of his son as a candidate by Di Pietro has lowered my opinion of this particular Italian MP. Nobody is perfect though.
Best,
Alex
Francesca Maggi says
Hey, Alex – are we going to be reading your take on the anti-porcellum referendum?
For me, it didn’t go far enough…but, any port in a storm…
Toma says
Nothing but a minor inconvenience. The Tumblr-style approach to reblogging would resolve this. Make sure it gets reblogged within 48 hours, change the original, allow the copies to circulate. A reverse case of chinese whispers.
Alex Roe says
I see you’ve already sussed a work around, Toma!
For those in the know, the new law, if it ever appears, should not cause too many problems – but I suspect it’ll be used as a political weapon to stifle comment & free speech.
Others, though, may simply give up – which is what the makers of this insidious law want.
Let’s hope the darn thing is knocked on its head – again.
Best,
Alex
LindyLouMac in Italy says
Carry on blogging Alex. 🙂
ff says
Guys, the Parthenon is in Athens, Italy’s not Greece. By the way, not yet…It’s the Pantheon!
Alex Roe says
Good point ff! Slight blooper corrected – even if it might be safer for Italy’s bloggers to go to Greece to protest, maybe.
Cheers,
Alex
Francesca Maggi says
p.s. it’s authorities not aurthortities
Alex Roe says
Thanks 🙂 Corrected.
Best,
Alex
Deirdré Straughan says
I just checked – my blog is still one of the top results on Google for “current events in italy” (has been for years). I’m no longer resident in Italy. So any Italian bloggers who are worried, I’ll be happy to publish for you. Alla faccia di quel covo di Fascisti!
Alex Roe says
Thanks for your kind offshore blogging offer, Dierdré 🙂
There plenty of ways of skinning a cat and making like tough for the fascists.
Ciao,
Alex