Italian Internet

[CheRev]

Backpacking through Italy at the moment and to my dismay I've found out you have to provide identification (passport, driving licence) to go on the internet. They take a photocopy of it and keep it on record. Obviously this means that there is some government organisation (or maybe they sourced it out!) that's keeping an eye on everything being looked up on the internet. Very dodgy. I'm sure Berlusconi squeezed it in on the old reliable "anti-terrorism" rhetoric.

Anyone else heard of this? Or maybe this is common place in some countries, but it's the first time I've come across it.

Another step towards 'Big Brother' in my opinion...

[which doctor]

Use a free in-browser anonymous proxy to browse the web. It'll encrpyt your web history so it can't be tracked.

I know at some libraries to go on the internet you have to have a library card, if you don't have a library card I think you just have to show ID and/or fill out some form. I don't think they photocopy anything. I'm not sure of this practice at independant web-cafes though.

[CheRev]

Yeah, they photocopy it in internet cafes. Just don't like the whole government spying on you thing...