Italian Parliament Publishes Draft Internet Bill Of Rights

from the who's-next? dept

For several years, Techdirt covered the twists and turns of the "Marco Civil" saga, Brazil's bill of rights for the Internet, which finally passed back in March. Rather depressingly, this welcome move seemed to be something of a one-off, but now the Italian Parliament has announced its own draft bill of rights. Here's the introduction (original in Italian -- pdf):
The Internet has contributed decisively to the redefinition of both the private and public space, to structure the relationships between people and between people and institutions. It has cancelled borders and built new means of production and the use of knowledge. It has expanded the possibilities for direct intervention in the public sphere by individuals. It has modified the organization of work. It has allowed the development of a more open and free society. The Internet should be considered as a global resource and one that meets the criterion of universality.

The European Union is today the region of the world with the highest constitutional protection for personal data, explicitly recognized by Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is the point of reference for specifying principles concerning the operation of the Internet, even in a global context.

This Statement of Rights on the Internet is based upon the full recognition of freedom, equality, dignity and diversity of each person. The guarantee of these rights is a necessary condition for ensuring the democratic functioning of institutions, and in order to avoid the dominance of public and private powers that could lead to a society of surveillance, control and social selection.

The Internet is configured as an increasingly-important space for the self-organization of individuals and groups, and as a vital tool for promoting individual and collective participation in democratic processes and meaningful equality.

The principles regarding the Internet also take account of its structure as an economic space that makes possible innovation, fair competition and growth in a democratic context.

A Declaration of Rights for the Internet is an essential tool to provide a constitutional foundation for principles and rights at a supranational level.
There then follow 14 digital rights, including things like basic human rights; right to access the Net; Net neutrality; control of personal data online; protection against surveillance without the approval of a judge; right to online anonymity; and the right to be forgotten.

The present document is just a draft, and input will be gathered from many quarters, including the public, who can make comments and suggestions using an online system. That's only in Italian, for understandable reasons, but it would be good if translations into other major languages were made to allow an even wider consultation [Update: English and French drafts of just the text are available.] After all, a bill of rights for the Internet is something that concerns everyone, not just citizens of enlightened nations like Brazil and Italy.

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Filed Under: bill of rights, brazil, internet, internet rights, italy, marco civil


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 1:33am

    Replace "net'" and "online" with "phone".

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 3:17am

      Re:

      The Interphone has contributed decisively to the redefinition of both the private and public space, to structure the relationships between people and between people and institutions. It has cancelled borders and built new means of production and the use of knowledge. It has expanded the possibilities for direct intervention in the public sphere by individuals. It has modified the organization of work. It has allowed the development of a more open and free society. The Interphone should be considered as a global resource and one that meets the criterion of universality.

      The European Union is today the region of the world with the highest constitutional protection for personal data, explicitly recognized by Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is the point of reference for specifying principles concerning the operation of the Interphone, even in a global context.

      This Statement of Rights on the Interphone is based upon the full recognition of freedom, equality, dignity and diversity of each person. The guarantee of these rights is a necessary condition for ensuring the democratic functioning of institutions, and in order to avoid the dominance of public and private powers that could lead to a society of surveillance, control and social selection.

      The Interphone is configured as an increasingly-important space for the self-organization of individuals and groups, and as a vital tool for promoting individual and collective participation in democratic processes and meaningful equality.

      The principles regarding the Interphone also take account of its structure as an economic space that makes possible innovation, fair competition and growth in a democratic context.

      A Declaration of Rights for the Interphone is an essential tool to provide a constitutional foundation for principles and rights at a supranational level.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 5:29am

      Response to: Anonymous Coward on Oct 21st, 2014 @ 1:33am

      The interphone is not something you can just dump something on, it's not a big truck. IT'S A SERIES OF TUBES

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    got_runs? (profile), 21 Oct 2014 @ 3:16am

    It does not matter.

    The Police State doesn't operate under small people law. They literally make their own law and keep it secret.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 11:42am

      Re: It does not matter.

      "In the depths of my heart I can’t help being convinced that my dear fellow-men, with a few exceptions, are worthless."

      - Freud

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Drake, 21 Oct 2014 @ 7:13am

    Well, phones becomes the necessary thing. People can't survive without it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    OldGeezer (profile), 21 Oct 2014 @ 7:23am

    No Italian surveillance?

    And I suppose this means Italy does not have it's equivalent of the NSA doing mass surveillance? I doubt it. Maybe their lawmakers are as clueless as ours used to be.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 7:40am

    It's not finished yet , It till has to be screened by the MPAA and RIAA.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 21 Oct 2014 @ 7:45am

    Awesome, kudos to Italy. I'm troubled with these "right to be forgotten" and "control of personal data online" issues. The second can turn into something hideous while the first is hideous by default. In any case it's nice to see something good from my country being adopted elsewhere.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 7:46am

    i think the statement concerning an 'enlightened Italy' is rather misplaced. if i remember correctly, hasn't there been some rather ridiculous court cases over copyright and the prosecution of citizens?

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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