The government's bill to combat
intimidation of public officials would make journalists found
guilty of defaming elected officials liable for prison sentences
of up to nine years.
Italy's current anti-defamation law dates back to 1948, and
calls for prison sentences of 1-6 years for media slander and
libel.
The current reform would add three years to the maximum
sentence if the media defamation was committed against "a member
of a political, administrative, or judicial body during the
course of their mandate, functions, or service".
The Senate justice committee approved the bill on May 3,
and it is now before the Senate
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