Italy’s Surveillance of Cyber Cafes
posted by Daniel Solove
This interesting story describes Italy’s strong antiterrorism laws, which require extensive monitoring of people’s use of the Internet in cyber cafes:
After Italy passed a new antiterrorism package in July, authorities ordered managers offering public communications services, like Mr. Savoni, to make passport photocopies of every customer seeking to use the Internet, phone, or fax. . . .
Passed within weeks of the London bombings this summer, the law is part of the most extensive antiterror package introduced in Italy since 9/11 and the country’s subsequent support of the Iraq war.
Though the legislation also includes measures to heighten transportation security, permit DNA collection, and facilitate the detention or deportation of suspects, average Italians are feeling its effect mainly in Internet cafes.
Before the law was passed, Savoni’s clients were anonymous to him. Now they must be identified by first and last name. He must also document which computer they use, as well as their log-in and log-out times.
Like other owners of Internet cafes, Savoni had to obtain a new public communications business license, and purchase tracking software that costs up to $1,600.
The software saves a list of all sites visited by clients, and Internet cafe operators must periodically turn this list into their local police headquarters.
October 15, 2005 at 1:42 pm
Posted in: Privacy, Privacy (Electronic Surveillance), Privacy (Law Enforcement)
Print This Post
Responses (2)
Crescat Sententia - November 25, 2005 at 11:56 am
Mas
Dan Solove reminds me of his earlier post about government surveillance of Italian cybercafes. I can add only that the first time I arrived (sans passport, since mine was safe in my room) the nice gentleman offered to let me…
Crescat Sententia - November 25, 2005 at 11:56 am
Mas
Dan Solove reminds me of his earlier post about government surveillance of Italian cybercafes. I can add only that the first time I arrived (sans passport, since mine was safe in my room) the nice gentleman offered to let me…
Comments are closed for this entry.