Esta es la versión HTML de un fichero adjunto a una solicitud de acceso a la información 'Member state comments on NetzDG'.


Document 1
Ref. Ares(2020)2972026 - 09/06/2020
Message 104
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2017) 01588
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Translation of the message 103
Notification: 2017/0127/D
Forwarding of the observations of a Member State (Italy) (article 5, paragraph 2, of Directive (EU) 2015/1535). 
These observations do not have the effect of extending the standstill period.
********************
********************
(MSG: 201701588.EN)
1. MSG 104 IND 2017 0127 D EN 28-06-2017 26-06-2017 COM 5.2 28-06-2017
2. Italy
3A. MINISTERO DELLO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO
Direzione Generale per il mercato, la concorrenza, il consumatore, la vigilanza e la normativa tecnica 
Divisione XIII - Normativa tecnica 
00187 Roma - Via Sallustiana, 53 
tel. +39 06 4705.5430 - .5340 - e-mail: xxxxx.xx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
3B. MINISTERO DELL'INTERNO - DIPARTIMENTO DELLA PUBBLICA SICUREZZA
Diresione centrale per la polizia stradale, ferroviaria, delle comunicazioni e per i reparti speciali della polizia di
Stato - Servizio Polizia postale e delle comunicazioni - ROMA 
AUTORITA' PER LE GARANZIE NELLE COMUNICAZIONI 
Direzione Contenuti Audiovisivi - ROMA 
4. 2017/0127/D - SERV60
5. article 5, paragraph 2, of Directive (EU) 2015/1535
6. In relation to Notification 2017/0127/D on the draft ‘Act improving law enforcement on social networks
[Netzdurchführungsgesetz – NetzDG]’, the Italian Postal and Communications Police and the Italian
Communications Authority submitted the following comments.
Overall the proposed legislation is acceptable, provided the rules of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime are
reiterated in the preamble, requiring evidence to be sent to law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities to be
preserved when illegal contents are deleted.
The draft notified by Germany under Directive (EU) 2015/1535, introducing legal requirements for social networks
is welcomed by the competent offices of the Italian Communications Authority.
The rationale of the Act is to encourage social networks (the definition of which remains unexplored by European
lawmakers thus far) to process complaints concerning hate crimes and other content-related criminal offences
faster and more effectively in order to ensure illegal content is removed promptly. Moreover, Italian lawmakers also
recently started to explore the possibility of introducing public enforcement tools, for instance in relation to fake
news.
Against this background, the German draft legislation is deemed especially interesting, also in light of the fact that
it is the first attempt of its kind in Europe. We agree that relying on spontaneous, voluntary action by stakeholders
would be insufficient.
Also of undoubted value is the attempt to provide a first legal definition of ‘social networks’, as ‘telemedia service
providers which, for profit-making purposes, operate internet platforms that enable users to exchange and share
any content with other users or to make such content available to the public (social networks)’. In this respect, we
agree with the choice to limit the subjective scope of application only to social networks in a position to influence
public opinion, by introducing a minimum threshold of active users and by excluding journalistic platforms from the
definition above.
However, we believe German lawmakers could provide a clearer definition which highlights, among the identifying
features of social networks, the fact that said social interaction and sharing services are provided free of charge,
thereby setting them apart from Information Society services, which do instead require payment of a fee (cf. Article
1.1(b) of Directive (EU) 2015/1535). From this point of view, the current scope of application is deemed too general

in certain areas, even though the punishable offences help understand the potential targets of deletion orders and
the related administrative measures.
In terms of the sanctions, the fine of up to 5 million euros is considered a suitable deterrent from breaching the
obligations imposed.
In conclusion, the proposed measures are not deemed to create obstacles to the free movement of goods and the
free provision of Information Society services. In fact, they introduce a specific obligation applicable to a target
group which is currently exempt from specific liabilities under Directive 2000/31/EC.
**********
European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Fax: +32 229 98043
email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx