Italian bill limits use of wiretaps

Silvio Berlusconi’s cabinet approved a bill yesterday to restrict wiretaps conducted during criminal investigations in Italy and impose jail sentences on journalists who publish leaked extracts.

Italian newspapers frequently reprint leaked transcripts of conversations overheard by the police, often involving celebrities and politicians, including Berlusconi.

The bill, which is expected to win approval in parliament, restricts wiretaps to cases where the suspected crime would earn a sentence of 10 years or more, or five years in the case of crimes against the state. Phone tapping would also be allowed in all mafia or terrorism investigations.

The bill would limit to three months the period for which phones can be tapped, while a panel of magistrates would be required to authorise wiretaps. Journalists publishing leaked transcripts would face sentences of up to three years, although sentences would be suspended.

Massimo Donadi, of the opposition Italy of Values party, said recent scandals, such as the collapse of dairy giant Parmalat, would not have been exposed under the proposed law.

– By Tom Kington

Popularity: 1% [?]