{"id":"ITA-003","notes":"Coded Sep 25 2026 from Civic Space Watch (CIVICUS rating: obstructed). Related: ITA-001 (Graphite spyware used against Mediterranea founders).","country":"Italy","sources":[{"url":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/italy-escalating-criminalisation-of-search-and-rescue-organisations/","citation":"https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/italy-escalating-criminalisation-of-search-and-rescue-organisations/"},{"url":"https://sea-watch.org/en/sea-watch-5-detained-intimidation-at-sea-repression-on-land/","citation":"https://sea-watch.org/en/sea-watch-5-detained-intimidation-at-sea-repression-on-land/"},{"url":"https://sos-humanity.org/en/press/italy-detains-rescue-ship-for-60-days-and-proposes-sea-blockade-bill-as-hundreds-are-missing-in-mediterranean/","citation":"https://sos-humanity.org/en/press/italy-detains-rescue-ship-for-60-days-and-proposes-sea-blockade-bill-as-hundreds-are-missing-in-mediterranean/"}],"summary":"Throughout 2026 Italian authorities used administrative detentions, fines and criminal proceedings against civilian search-and-rescue ships. Sea-Watch 5 was detained for 15 days and fined €7,500 in January (for not notifying the Libyan authorities, which Sea-Watch said would have endangered the rescued) and again for 20 days with a €10,000 fine in March; Humanity 1 was detained for 60 days and fined €10,000 in February; Aurora was detained for 45 days in April; Trotamar III faced repeated detentions. The government also proposed naval blockades.","tactics":[{"code":"TC-24","role":"primary","label":"Administrative CSO Burdening","needs_review":false},{"code":"TC-39","role":"secondary","label":"Mass Criminalization of Protest and Civic Mobilization","needs_review":false}],"version":1,"channels":["Administrative ship detentions and fines; criminal proceedings"],"entities":[{"id":1203,"name":"Italian Interior Ministry; port and maritime authorities","role":"actor","entity_type":"Government"},{"id":1204,"name":"Search-and-rescue NGOs: Sea-Watch, SOS Humanity (Humanity 1), Aurora, Trotamar III and their crews","role":"target","entity_type":"CSO"}],"date_text":"01/2026","created_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:56.887464+00:00","escalation":4,"harm_track":"Track 3 — Operational Suppression","narratives":[],"report_ids":[],"signal_ids":[],"updated_at":"2026-09-25T12:58:56.887464+00:00","occurred_on":"2026-01-01","campaign_ids":[],"enabler_type":"","response_ids":[],"trigger_type":"TR-08: Proactive / Ambient","campaign_phase":"","civic_response":"","date_precision":"month","enabler_status":"","campaigns_served":[],"consequence_category":"Operational Suppression","institutional_consequence":"Vessels detained; Fines; Reduced rescue capacity"}