Italian president, Silvio Berlusconi, takes over the G8 presidency on January 1. In a recent speech to Italian postal workers Berlusconi announced that he intended to use his G8 powers to push for an international agreement to "regulate the internet."
The reaction has been swift. The Italian paper L'Unita said Berlusconi would be following the example of repressive regimes who filter the web as a matter of policy:
Berlusconi has often been accused of using his influence to shut down dissent, He has launched numerous libel suits against critics. The Economist became a target after it said he 'wasn't fit to run Italy.' The PM lost that case earlier this year.
Berlusconi has all the instincts of a tyrant and if he had his way Italians would be living in Silvio World.
The times seem to favor this type of regulatory initiative. The UK has new laws aimed at policing the web, and Australia is implementing filters. Berlusconi will face domestic opposition if he attempts to use his G8 position to leverage regulation. La Stampa announced that Italian bloggers are planning a demonstration against any move by the government to to tighten controls over the internet.
You can't say that it is not a disturbing proclamation, given that the only countries in the world where there are filters or restrictions against internet are countries ruled by dictatorial regimes: those between China, Iran, Cuba, Saudi Arabia.
Berlusconi has often been accused of using his influence to shut down dissent, He has launched numerous libel suits against critics. The Economist became a target after it said he 'wasn't fit to run Italy.' The PM lost that case earlier this year.
Berlusconi has all the instincts of a tyrant and if he had his way Italians would be living in Silvio World.
The times seem to favor this type of regulatory initiative. The UK has new laws aimed at policing the web, and Australia is implementing filters. Berlusconi will face domestic opposition if he attempts to use his G8 position to leverage regulation. La Stampa announced that Italian bloggers are planning a demonstration against any move by the government to to tighten controls over the internet.
