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Italian Court Rules Web Editors Not Responsible For Comments

Posted by samzenpus on from the not-my-responsibility dept.

itwbennett writes "Internet freedom got a boost Wednesday when Italy's highest court ruled that the editors of online publications can't be held legally responsible for defamatory comments posted by their readers. The judges said online publications could not be treated in the same way as traditional print media and could not be expected to exercise preventative editorial control over readers' comments."

3 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sadly by CmdrPony · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The poster? Just that it doesn't show your details on the page doesn't mean it makes you invulnerable to prosecution if you break the law. Even Slashdot saves the ip addresses of commenters and if you post something that breaks the law and police comes asking about it, they have to hand out the details. That is not going to ever change either.

  2. Sharpen your keyboards, ACs! by srussia · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hold that anonymous allegations, however defamatory, should not be prosecutable. It's anonymous, wouldn't a reasonable person just dismiss any such allegation considering the source?

    Got my Nomex suit on, so let's go!

    --
    Set your phasers on "funky"!
  3. A small, meaningless victory by Hentes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Italy still has strict limitations on free speech, this victory is but a drop in the ocean.