Computer Crimes: Website Filtering

Regulatory updates have recently been published that introduce new operational methods for combating online child pornography.

In particular, the Ministerial Decree of 7 February 2025, which amends the decree of 8 January 2007, was published in the Official Journal (no. 70 of 25 March 2025).

This decree defines the technical requirements for the filtering tools that Internet connectivity providers must use to prevent access to sites reported by the National Center for the Fight against Online Child Pornography (CNCPO).

The main change concerns the way the CNCPO communicates the list of sites to be filtered to electronic communication service providers.

Specifically, the decree, with regard to the security of information exchanges with the center, requires the center to communicate the list of sites to which filtering tools will be applied, guaranteeing the integrity, confidentiality, and certainty of the sender of the transmitted data.

Furthermore, Article 2 of the aforementioned Decree established that operators who allow users to access the Internet or other electronic communication networks, not yet registered by the CNCPO, shall inform the latter and the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy of the activation of filtering tools compliant with the decree by July 23, 2025 (120 days from publication in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic).

Computer Crimes: Website Filtering