Politics · Italy · 4 hrs ago
Three Italian Senate bills aim to shield elections from foreign interference
Three bills in Italy's Senate seek to protect elections from foreign interference, including campaigns that spread false or distorted information.
The proposals are intended to safeguard voters' freedom to choose and the integrity of elections.
The earliest bill was introduced by the centrist Action party in April 2025, and hearings on it are under way in the Senate's Constitutional Affairs Committee.
It proposes election monitoring, rules and penalties, as well as measures to secure digital communications.
A Forza Italia bill proposes tools to detect digital manipulation, including disinformation campaigns made with artificial intelligence.
A third bill from senator Mariastella Gelmini of Noi Moderati is expected, but its details are not given.
The bills' sponsors hope to agree on a single text and complete an initial stage of work before the budget bill reaches the Senate.
Three bills are before Italy’s Senate to protect elections from foreign interference, including manipulation through false information.
The bill with the most advanced legislative process was introduced by senators Carlo Calenda and Marco Lombardo of Azione in April 2025.
A Forza Italia bill was added at the end of October, and a third bill is expected from Mariastella Gelmini of Noi moderati.
The proposals include monitoring, safeguards and sanctions, with measures to detect digital disinformation campaigns.
Senator Lombardo said he hopes the parties can agree on a single text and complete an initial round before the budget bill reaches the Senate.
- Who
- Senators from Azione and Forza Italia have introduced bills; Mariastella Gelmini of Noi moderati is expected to bring forward a third.
- What
- Three Senate bills aim to protect elections from foreign interference, including false or distorted information and digital disinformation.
- When
- The first bill was introduced in April 2025. A Forza Italia bill was added at the end of October; the article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- The Italian Senate.
- Why
- To protect democratic elections and the integrity of the electoral process from foreign interference and manipulation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Carlo Calenda and Marco Lombardo proposed the first bill, which was assigned to the Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Forza Italia senators Stefania Craxi and Daniela Ternullo added a second bill.
ANSA reported that hearings were under way on the Azione bill and that a third bill from Mariastella Gelmini was expected.
- Bills before the Senate
- 3
- First bill introduced
- April 2025
- Azione sponsors
- Carlo Calenda and Marco Lombardo
- Forza Italia sponsors
- Stefania Craxi and Daniela Ternullo
- Expected third bill
- Mariastella Gelmini of Noi moderati
What people are saying
set of control and monitoring provisions designed to regulate the checks needed to ensure freedom in exercising the right to vote