Open Consultation Begins On Italy's Internet Bill of Rights

Anita Hunt (lissnup) writes: Hot on the heels of Brazil's recent initiative in this area, Italy has produced a draft [PDF] Declaration of Internet Rights, and on Monday opened the bill for consultation on the Civici [Italian] platform, a first in Europe. "[A]s it is now, it consists of a preamble and 14 articles that span several pages. Topics range from the 'fundamental right to Internet access' and Net Neutrality to the notion of 'informational self-determination.' The bill also includes provisions on the right to anonymity and tackles the highly debated idea of granting online citizens a 'right to be forgotten.' Measures are taken against algorithmic discriminations and the opacity of the terms of service devised by 'digital platform operators' who are 'required to behave honestly and fairly' and, most of all, give 'clear and simple information on how the platform operates.'"

Comments

ENTITLEMENTS, NOT RIGHTS

[roman_mir]

A list of entitlements, not rights. If somebody has to provide you with a supply of anything in any shape, way or form, then those are entitlements and entitlements destroy right, not provide them. Somebody has to lose his or her right not to supply you with an entitlement, for you to have that entitlement. You don't want people like Italy (or anybody), enforcing their ideas of entitlements. Let them figure out their labour entitlement system, how is that working out therr (Italy, Spain, or anywherr for that matter, where people cannot be fired because of 'rights', and what that does to freedom and eventually business and hiring).

Italy can shove it AFAIC.

Re:ENTITLEMENTS, NOT RIGHTS

[ljw1004]

Let them figure out their labour entitlement system, how is that working out therr (Italy, Spain, or anywherr for that matter, where people cannot be fired because of 'rights', and what that does to freedom and eventually business and hiring)

I worked in Italy for a few years before emigrating to the US, so I can give an actual experience-based answer (i.e. anecdote rather than speculation) about what it's like in practice. I went from a $12k/year job in Italy to a $120k/job year in America. The food in Italy was far better, it was easier to travel within the country and outside it, the work-life balance was uniformly better, people seemed generally happier, they dressed better, and all of this was affordable. The houses and apartments were smaller, fewer people could afford to maintain cars, and there wasn't the same "opportunity" as in America e.g. to just pack up and go backpacking or take up windsurfing. On balance it's a tie. However for people earning less in America it will be a much worse deal here.

You talked about business and hiring. My experience will only be relevant if you're more concerned about quality of life of the population, rather than GDP or the wealth of the business owners.

Re:Blabbering

[aglider]

Any person shall have the same right to access the Internet on equal terms, using appropriate and up-to-date technologies that remove all economic and social barriers.
The fundamental right to Internet access must be ensured with respect to its substantive pre-conditions, not only as the mere possibility of connecting to the Internet.
Access shall include freedom of choice with regard to operating systems, software, and applications.
The effective protection of the right to Internet access requires appropriate public intervention to overcome all forms of digital divide - based on cultural, infrastructural or economic factors particularly as regards accessibility by persons with disabilities.

It's just blabbering without explicitly adding something like:

All authorization to operate will be withdrawn by the Italian Parliament, by means of the AGCOM (Agency for the Communication Warranties [but not freedoms]) from whoever will act against these rights and will prosecute it with criminal files.

Because of a typo in a database I had to wait two years before getting my ADSL.
My rights were thrashed and there has been no way for me to defend them.
The incombent telco simply ignored any communication of mine and never paid for that.
No law, no right!

Re:'right to be forgotten'

[fustakrakich]

Argument is futile, and the philosophizing is a foolish waste of time. I'm simply looking for a technical solution to censorship now, a way to make the internet indelible, and openly accessible that no authority can hinder in any way.

FYI: Smoking is not speech. The only valid limit one can impose on speech is the decibel level.