Two Democratic Party (PD)
members of the justice committee in the Lower House on Wednesday
said the secretary general of the Italian journalists union
FNSI, Anna Del Freo, is mistaken in her interpretation of a
proposed new law on wiretap publication.
"(She) wrongly interpreted the laws being discussed in the
Lower House to define new rules on wiretaps," said MP David
Ermini, member of the justice committee, and MP Walter Verini,
head of PD in the justice committee.
The FNSI has expressed concern that the new law would
provide for journalists being sanctioned or incarcerated for
publishing wiretaps, and the possible negative implications on
freedom of the press that such a law might create.
"The fundamental right of journalists to publish the news
must be protected," Del Freo said.
"We have to be careful to not slide even more behind in the
index on freedom of the press, which already sees us in a very
low position," she said.
"We can understand the worries, but in this case they are
unfounded," said Ermini and Verini.
"In the bill's text on the principles and directive
criteria regarding wiretaps, we're asking to prevent the problem
of the publication of wiretaps that aren't relevant to the
investigations, in order to protect the right to information
together with freedom of the press".
Ermini and Verini said that penalties are provided for in
cases of fraudulent recordings, but those are "outside the cases
of exercising the rights of freedom of the press and of
defence".
The bill also lays down penalties for unjust detention.
Magistrates have voiced concern this may lay them open to
trial by parliament.
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