Italian politicians are to vote on legislation to force internet
providers to block Facebook pages encouraging criminal
activity.
The measure would apply to all websites and require content to
be blocked within 24 hours, according to the Guardian
newspaper.
The measure is contained in an amendment to a public security
bill approved by the Italian senate. It will now go to the vote in
the lower house.
The amendment was initiated by a row over Facebook pages set up
to honour members of the Italian mafia who have been linked to
hundreds of murders.
The move follows an attempt by the Italian authorities to clamp
down on websites providing user content by
charging Google employees for failing to protect personal
data.
The charges follow a two-year investigation by Italian
authorities into a video posted to Google's Italian website. The
video depicts four teenagers mocking a disabled classmate.
Google's global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer, chief legal
officer David Drummond, former CFO George Reyes, and a former
London-based Google Video executive face up to 36 months in prison
if found guilty.
The trial, scheduled to resume in Milan tomorrow, will examine
the degree to which Google is responsible for content supplied by
users of its video service.