(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

On 6 June 2008, the blog of the Italian journalist Antonino Monteleone was closed, without notification, by the Polizia Postale of Calabria under accusations of defamation, but the journalist claims that this action came after having posted uncomfortable information on political figures.

The whole story started in 2006 after the elections, when the blogger posted extracts from a document containing CVs of candidates for the Italian Parliament. The document included information of certain names on the nomination list that had previous relations to cases of power abuse and manipulation of tenders or even with mafia activities. On 9 December 2006, Monteleone posted an article on Galati, member of UDP party then, undersecretary in the Ministry for productive activities during the period in office of the Berlusconi Government, showing he was a drug addict. Following a brief exchange of e-mails between Monteleone and Galati, the latter sued the former but the court dismissed the case making Galati pay for the costs.

The closing of the website was made without notification and without any information to the blogger on the concrete accusations. Piero Ricca, a blogger who was in his turn investigated by the police for defamation considers the situation absurd and states that the "preventive seizure" for defamation is a debatable provision anyway. In any case, this action must be brought to the attention of the post author under accusation.

This is not an isolate case in Italy and Ricca believes there are other bloggers whose blogs have been seized but did not make this public. It seems another Italian blogger, Carlo Ruta, was condemned by the Court of Modica for clandestine printing. Therefore, the blog was treated in this case by the Italian justice the same as a journal or newspaper.

This is not a trend only in Italy. According to the annual report of the University of Washington, more and more people are arrested for having published on their blogs their opinions on political issues. A World Information Access report states that bloggers have been arrested for having exposed corruption in government, abuse of human rights or suppression of protests. The reports also predicts that 2008 will see a higher number of arrest cases for such kind of issues.

Another Italian blog seized (only in Italian, 10.06.2008)
http://punto-informatico.it/2314627/PI/News/Sequestrato-un-altro-blog-...

Why was the blogger condemned? (only in Italian, 17.06.2008)
http://punto-informatico.it/p.aspx?i=2322890

Blogger arrests hit record high (16.06.2008)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7456357.stm