I direct you to this blog entry of an Italian gentleman called Beppe, who informs us about a new law that they want passed in Italy.

Let me give you the short version of it:

1. They want people in Italy who want to run a blog to register on some government database.

2. People would have to pay a blogging tax.

3. You would need a registered journalist that would be your appointed "responsible director".

Now I don't know about you, but this sounds like restricting freedom of speech to me.

I don't really know what the political background of Italy is but it still came as quite a surprise that they would have the same outlook on the Internet and blogging as China does.

Now, I'm not any type of activist and I don't go demonstrating (or in true South African fashion go toyi-toyi in front of Parliament) whenever someone wants to restrict my rights.

I do believe in the freedom of voicing one's opinions. I mean that's exactly what they are, opinions, and furthermore, they're no one else's but yours.

There was a stage that South Africa wanted to implement such a law, not too long ago. Remember the fiasco about the blog of Juan Duval Uys, or more commonly known as sa male prostitute, who "outed" some of his male clients, including high-profile politicians like Simon Grindrod?

Government almost immediately wanted to implement some sort of regulations committee that would be able to implement rights and regulations for all South African bloggers.

The blogosphere was in such an uproar that government quickly let go of that idea.

The question is, how would countries like Italy or China get their governments to listen? Or is it just an impossible request?