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Aides Blame Facebook for Berlusconi Attack

Italy plans crackdown on social networking sites

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2009 5:20 AM CST

(Newser) – The attack on Silvio Berlusconi will likely deal a blow to freedom of speech in Italy. Members of his government have publicly blamed social networking sites—where anti-Berlusconi pages have proliferated—for the assault. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has announced plans for a crackdown, saying that the Internet could spawn "a dangerous spiral of emulation" unless censorship is initiated.

Freedom of speech is already seen as relatively weak in Italy, with Berlusconi exerting control over most forms of media; Internet users are subject to many restrictions, including having to show ID at Internet cafes. "I can't imagine how Maroni can further reduce the freedom of expression online, given how bad the situation really is," a lawyer who heads a group advocating freedom of expression online tells the Christian Science Monitor.

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Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi sits in his vehicle after an attacker hit him in the face at a rally Sunday night. (AP Photo/RAI TG3 via APTN)

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It has happened before. When something bad happens, the authorities' first reaction is to tighten the grip on online censorship. - Lawyer Andrea Monti

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

DontLikeYou___

Dec 16, 2009 6:23 AM CST

I spoke to facebook. He has an alibi.

DieselDawg

Dec 16, 2009 6:14 AM CST

Here's a clue: Limits on free speech? If you're that hated, you might want to limit your exposure to angy mobs, just for self-preservation alone. I hope Italians vote this guy out of office. It sounds like the China stories re: interenet access.

fiestygirl

Dec 16, 2009 4:44 AM CST

Uh Oh...The silence is deafening on this one. Has our freedom of speech already been altered somehow?

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Christian Science Monitor (Source Grid »)

World • Technology

social networking • Italy • Facebook • Silvio Berlusconi • Internet censorship • freedom of speech • Berlusconi assaulted • Massimo Tartaglia

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Aides Blame Facebook for Berlusconi Attack