Pro-mafia Facebook groups cause concern

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13th
JAN

Pro-mafia Facebook groups cause concern

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

It seems the growing popularity of Facebook has got more than just MySpace worried. Italian anti-mafia activists are growing concerned by the increasing number of Facebook groups and pages exalting jailed mafia bosses and their actions.

What worries the anti-mafia groups even more is the number of young people who are joining these groups as the criminal actions of the mafia become increasingly romanticised. Two of the main cult heroes of the moment are Toto Riina and Bernardo Provenzano who, combined, spent more than 60 years at large before their arrests in 1993 and 2006.

Rita Borsellino – the sister of Paolo, who was killed in a car bombing in the 90s that was ordered by Riina and Provenzano – has called for laws against those who are pro-mafia just as there are laws against people who are pro-Nazi.

Borsellino said: “An instrument like Facebook, which is universal and can be used by anyone, should make an examination of conscience and give itself some rules instead of making heroes out of these murderers.”

One of the biggest groups of its kind on Facebook disbanded after an Italian newspaper wrote about the pro-mafia groups last week and Italian magistrates have warned that any users who join the remaining groups could be investigated on suspicion of involvement in organised crime.

The media coverage of pro-mafia groups has sparked a surge in anti-mafia groups as campaigners look to address the balance.