taly’s nationalist government under Giorgia Meloni is considering a law that could lead to imprisonment for up to five years for individuals convicted of “glorifying illegal activity” online.
The decision follows a tragic incident in which an Italian YouTuber named Matteo Di Pietro, driving a rented Lamborghini SUV as part of a social media stunt, collided with a Smart car in Rome. The crash resulted in the death of a five-year-old boy named Manuel Proietti, while his mother and four-year-old sister sustained severe injuries.
The individuals involved in the supercar, who were associated with a group called ‘The Borderline,’ were participating in a social media challenge that involved spending 50 consecutive hours in the luxury vehicle.
In response to the tragedy, ‘The Borderline,’ which boasts over 600,000 subscribers, announced the cancellation of their YouTube channel, citing the moral impossibility of continuing. The group said, “The Borderline expresses sincere sympathy to the family [of Manuel]. What happened has left us all with a deep wound, nothing will ever be the same again…our thoughts are only with Manuel.”
To prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, the coalition government plans to expand an existing law targeting youth gang crime, originally drafted by Matteo Salvini’s League party.
Under the proposed law, individuals who post videos online to generate income and “glorify illegal activity” or “incite violence” would face charges. Social media platforms have seen a proliferation of “content creators” resorting to unconventional and unethical methods to increase clicks and views.
Andrea Ostellari, an undersecretary at the justice ministry, emphasized the law’s focus on combating the production and dissemination of videos that glorify illegal behavior.
Ostellari highlighted that the law aims to address an emerging phenomenon, involving young people who instigate violence or commit crimes through digital channels in pursuit of “likes” without considering the associated risks.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, Salvini, has already pledged to strengthen highway code regulations due to the rising number of accidents. One proposed measure includes delaying the issuance of driving licenses, which are currently allowed from the age of 18, for individuals involved in violent incidents.
