Italy
Italy promotes freedom of speech
online by allowing access to most content. However, the Italian government
has been slow to address many online
privacy and freedom-of-information
concerns, and Italy lags behind much
of Europe in terms of Internet penetration. Italy, like much of the European Union (EU), regulates certain
categories of Web sites, including
child pornography and gambling. Additionally, a recently proposed law, dubbed
the Levi-Prodi law, would impose registration and taxes on anyone creating ‘‘editorial content,’’ including bloggers. The law, which has faced significant opposition, has thus far not passed.
Background
Italy has had a multiparty, democratic government since 1946. The 1948 constitution
was written to prevent a return to early 20th-century fascism, and powers were spread
among the different branches of government to limit the powers of the head of state.
During the cold war, the country feared a communist overthrow, and as a result power
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency
Italy promotes freedom of speech
online by allowing access to most content. However, the Italian government
has been slow to address many online
privacy and freedom-of-information
concerns, and Italy lags behind much
of Europe in terms of Internet penetration. Italy, like much of the European Union (EU), regulates certain
categories of Web sites, including
child pornography and gambling. Additionally, a recently proposed law, dubbed
the Levi-Prodi law, would impose registration and taxes on anyone creating ‘‘editorial content,’’ including bloggers. The law, which has faced significant opposition, has thus far not passed.
Background
Italy has had a multiparty, democratic government since 1946. The 1948 constitution
was written to prevent a return to early 20th-century fascism, and powers were spread
among the different branches of government to limit the powers of the head of state.
During the cold war, the country feared a communist overthrow, and as a result power
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
Filtering
No Evidence
of Filtering
Suspected
Filtering
Selective
Filtering
Substantial
Filtering
Pervasive
Filtering
Political
Social
Conflict and security
Internet tools
Other Factors
Low
Medium
High
Not
Applicable
Transparency
Consistency