Agcom, the Communications Guarantee Authority, will be given more power in the fight against digital piracy thanks to a new bill unanimously passed in Italy’s lower House.

The bill will now head to the Senate floor.

It is a further measure in the fight against illegal platforms that facilitate unlimited access to pay TV channels.

Should it pass in the upper house too, the Authority will be able to block access to illegally disseminated content.

Stricter penalties such as imprisonment from six months to three years as well as fines from €2582 to €15,493 will be risked by those who use these platforms.

"[We will be] blocking network traffic to IP addresses uniquely intended for illicit activities,” reads the bill passed in the House.

“In the case of content being broadcast live, the measure shall be … executed before the beginning or, at the latest, during the live broadcast itself."

“The state [has] the task of recognising, protecting and promoting intellectual property in all its forms, as a tool to stimulate innovation, creativity, investment and the production of cultural content, including digital content.

“The state will, therefore, have to protect copyright from all infringements and offenses, including those perpetrated through digital piracy.”

"The bipartisan approval of the bill on combating digital piracy in the represents a very important step forward," said Undersecretary of State for the Presidency of the Council with responsibility for Innovation, Alessio Butti.

"Now it will be the government's task to continue a constructive dialogue with all the political forces in Parliament to push forward reforms, especially on the subject of innovation and digital transformation."

"The fight against digital piracy, which I was personally committed to in the past legislature with the first specific bill on the subject, is a priority."

Butti frames the government’s motivations as protective.

"We need to strengthen the regulatory system so as to preserve Italy's cultural industry, protect minors, and safeguard jobs in strategic sectors,” he said.

ANSA