Democratic Party says journos' union wrong on wiretap bill

(ANSA) - Rome, September 16 - 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.