Italy makes violent protest a crime with AI facial recognition for masked offenders

Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, approved a decree on Tuesday creating a new criminal offense of violent participation in protests, punishable by up to five years in prison and a 20,000-euro fine. The measures, aimed at preventing unrest in Milan and other cities, increase penalties for masked offenders and those causing group damage. Minors will be held responsible for their actions, with parents liable for damages, and police can now detain minors preemptively before demonstrations. Additionally, the package deploys 500 extra soldiers to Milan and introduces AI-powered biometric recognition to identify masked protesters. President Sergio Mattarella refused to expand soldiers' police-like powers, and the government stated that theft and destruction constitute criminality, not legitimate protest.