Passports for internet access???
Oct 5th, 2005, 10:16 AM
#1
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Passports for internet access???
Hey everybody,
I'm traveling to Italy with my Mother this coming spring. I've been gathering info from this site and elsewhere for a while now, and I just came across something that made me very curious and I wondered if any of you know any more about it....
I read that Italy passed a law in July that now requires internet cafe owners (not sure if this includes hotels with internet points) to get a photocopy of the passport of anyone asking to use the internet. I believe they are also required to obtain first and last name, the machine used, as well as login and logout times.
Does anyone know about this? Or have you experienced it? Also, does anyone know if this is required for using internet at hotels?
I'm traveling to Italy with my Mother this coming spring. I've been gathering info from this site and elsewhere for a while now, and I just came across something that made me very curious and I wondered if any of you know any more about it....
I read that Italy passed a law in July that now requires internet cafe owners (not sure if this includes hotels with internet points) to get a photocopy of the passport of anyone asking to use the internet. I believe they are also required to obtain first and last name, the machine used, as well as login and logout times.
Does anyone know about this? Or have you experienced it? Also, does anyone know if this is required for using internet at hotels?
Oct 5th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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There was some discussion about this yesterday. See the following thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687355
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687355
Oct 5th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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I can't recall for sure -- but I seem to remember this when I used an Internet cafe in Florence (it's the one in the underground level of the SMN train station). I don't think I showed my passport -- might have shown my driver's license.
My passport was xeroxed when I checked my bags at the Padua and Bologna train stations (and maybe Florence also?). I remember the Padua one well, as they taped it to my bag, and I didn't realize that it was a page from my passport until the xerox copy fell off my bag and I took a look.
Good thing I did.
My passport was xeroxed when I checked my bags at the Padua and Bologna train stations (and maybe Florence also?). I remember the Padua one well, as they taped it to my bag, and I didn't realize that it was a page from my passport until the xerox copy fell off my bag and I took a look.
Good thing I did.
Oct 5th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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This is an absolute red herring. I have used Internet points throughout Italy this past week (in libraries, bars, plus regular cafés) and never been asked for my passport.
Nevertheless, as the USA becomes an ever more totalitarian state, now demanding (as of yesterday, 4th October 2005) that I cannot enter the country without giving addresses I plan to visit, so equally visitors to Europe from North America must expect to receive the same treatment. A bit tough on Canadians, I know, but that's just the way it is.
Nevertheless, as the USA becomes an ever more totalitarian state, now demanding (as of yesterday, 4th October 2005) that I cannot enter the country without giving addresses I plan to visit, so equally visitors to Europe from North America must expect to receive the same treatment. A bit tough on Canadians, I know, but that's just the way it is.
Oct 5th, 2005, 10:19 PM
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hiddeneurope:
What's your source for "cannot enter the country without giving addresses I plan to visit"?
America requires me, and the other 5.7bn non-Americans, to declare - street number, street and postcode - where I'm staying on my first night. That's it.
What makes you so terrifying you have to declare your full itinerary?
What's your source for "cannot enter the country without giving addresses I plan to visit"?
America requires me, and the other 5.7bn non-Americans, to declare - street number, street and postcode - where I'm staying on my first night. That's it.
What makes you so terrifying you have to declare your full itinerary?
Oct 6th, 2005, 01:56 AM
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Since the definition of "totalitarian" is subjective at best can we please not get into a political harangue here?
I agree that the measures supposedly designed to "increase security" are sometimes misguided, much less ineffective, but I cannot understand why anyone would be worried about giving an address where they SUPPOSEDLY are going to spend their first night.
I believe that lying about a lot of stuff on Customs/immigration forms when entering the US has become a matter of course for lots of folks to include how much stuff they didn't buy.
I agree that the measures supposedly designed to "increase security" are sometimes misguided, much less ineffective, but I cannot understand why anyone would be worried about giving an address where they SUPPOSEDLY are going to spend their first night.
I believe that lying about a lot of stuff on Customs/immigration forms when entering the US has become a matter of course for lots of folks to include how much stuff they didn't buy.
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:06 AM
#12
Does this mean that everybody has to bring a passport to the internet cafe, including local residents? If they did that in the US, there would be a heck of a lot of people who couldn't use the internet because they don't have passports.
Hiddeneurope, I don't understand your point. This does not appear to be aimed at North Americans, but at all internet cafe patrons.
Hiddeneurope, I don't understand your point. This does not appear to be aimed at North Americans, but at all internet cafe patrons.
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:07 AM
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>It bothers me because it's an invasion of privacy.<
Hmmmmmmm.
Why would one expect that the use of a public facility is a private act? Public Internet Points are not secure.
It seems to me that requiring ID to use an IP makes it a little more difficult for the bad guys to use the internet to communicate without reducing the "privacy" of those who use them for legitimate purposes.
If I wish to use the computers at my local library, I have to sign up.
Hmmmmmmm.
Why would one expect that the use of a public facility is a private act? Public Internet Points are not secure.
It seems to me that requiring ID to use an IP makes it a little more difficult for the bad guys to use the internet to communicate without reducing the "privacy" of those who use them for legitimate purposes.
If I wish to use the computers at my local library, I have to sign up.
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:15 AM
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Dear ira:
I know that internet use is far from private, but to take the extra measure of asking for a copy of one's passport is a step beyond.
Hey, it's all about what gets your goat. This gets my goat. Just my opinion.
I know that internet use is far from private, but to take the extra measure of asking for a copy of one's passport is a step beyond.
Hey, it's all about what gets your goat. This gets my goat. Just my opinion.
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:24 AM
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And at least one internet cafe is closing because "he doesn't want to be a "cop" anymore."
http://csmonitor.com/2005/1004/p07s01-woeu.html
Before the law was passed, Savoni's clients were anonymous to him. Now they must be identified by first and last name. He must also document which computer they use, as well as their log-in and log-out times.
Like other owners of Internet cafes, Savoni had to obtain a new public communications business license, and purchase tracking software that costs up to $1,600.
The software saves a list of all sites visited by clients, and Internet cafe operators must periodically turn this list into their local police headquarters
http://csmonitor.com/2005/1004/p07s01-woeu.html
Before the law was passed, Savoni's clients were anonymous to him. Now they must be identified by first and last name. He must also document which computer they use, as well as their log-in and log-out times.
Like other owners of Internet cafes, Savoni had to obtain a new public communications business license, and purchase tracking software that costs up to $1,600.
The software saves a list of all sites visited by clients, and Internet cafe operators must periodically turn this list into their local police headquarters
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:30 AM
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Hi CM,
OK. However, don't you have to show ID to take a book from a library, to get on an airplane, to use a railpass, to rent a car, to register at a hotel, to rent a video, to cash a check or money order, etc
This is no worse than video cameras monitoring the streets.
OK. However, don't you have to show ID to take a book from a library, to get on an airplane, to use a railpass, to rent a car, to register at a hotel, to rent a video, to cash a check or money order, etc
This is no worse than video cameras monitoring the streets.
Oct 6th, 2005, 04:39 AM
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Coopers mom - I was in Italy last week and used several internet points.
I was asked for proof of identity, for which I used my passport - but this was certainly NOT photocopied at any outlet I used.
If they had insisted on a photocopy I would not have used the facility.
Steve
P.S. Hiddeneurope - this is not a 'red herring'.
I was asked for proof of identity, for which I used my passport - but this was certainly NOT photocopied at any outlet I used.
If they had insisted on a photocopy I would not have used the facility.
Steve
P.S. Hiddeneurope - this is not a 'red herring'.
