Source:www.members.shaw.ca

The day after I post advice on how to meet celebrities I have to post this information about the big crackdown on Paparazzi in Italy.

It seems that a series of events and scandals involving Paparazzi and gossip reporters, in Italy, where the whole celebrity stalking thing started, has precipitated a government investigation.

Following in the footsteps of anti-Paparazzi laws enacted in France in 2001 that prohibit certain Paparazzi activities, Italy is now putting a stop to "publication of private facts and behavior that is not of public interest, not relevant to the story ... and violate the protection of the sexual sphere."

I'm not a lawyer but I doubt that such a law could ever be passed in the USA due to Constitutional law. Also, the phrase, "not of public interest", is too broad, because, even though certain events may not be "in the public interest," the American public would certainly be "interested" in them.

It all comes down to whether or not the complaining party was harmed in any way by the actions of a Paparazzi, and that's hard to prove, when someone is caught doing something in public.

Here's the link to the story.

And here's the story about a payoff made by a prominent Italian family to a Paparazzi in order to prevent publication of photos. This was considered blackmail and the photographer was arrested.

Incidents such as this are what prompted the new, tough laws.