Netiquette Social Media

This Consulate General uses social media for institutional purposes, to enhance transparency and raise awareness of its activities: it informs, communicates, listens, and publishes institutional content.

Published content includes photographs, institutional videos, press releases, service information, news related to the activities of this office, as well as opportunities for citizen engagement and participation. Personal data are processed in compliance with the applicable data protection legislation, and the relevant privacy notice is available here: Privacy notice on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data for the purposes of providing consular services (with the exception of the issue of visas and citizenship applications) – Consolato Generale d’Italia Londra.

Through its social media channels, this office may share and repost content and messages of public interest and public utility published by other users.

This Consulate General is committed to managing spaces for communication and dialogue within its social media profiles and asks users to comply with a few simple rules:

1. Everyone is asked to express their opinions with courtesy, moderation, and respect.
2. On social media, each user is responsible for the content they publish and the opinions they express. Insults, vulgarity, offensive language, threats, and, in general, violent or defamatory behavior will not be tolerated.
3. Published content must always comply with personal data protection rules. References to facts or details that are not of public relevance and that infringe upon the privacy of third parties should be avoided.
4. Relevance to the activities of this office is an essential requirement: these spaces may not be used for purposes other than institutional ones.
5. Each discussion relates to a specific topic: all participants are required to respect it, avoiding broadening the discussion in a generic or indiscriminate manner.
6. Any form of advertising, spam, or promotion of private interests or illegal activities will not be tolerated.
7. Content that infringes copyright or involves the unauthorized use of registered trademarks is not permitted.

In any case, where the social media platform allows it, staff will remove any posts, comments, or audio/video materials that:

• contain inappropriate language and/or a threatening, violent, vulgar, or disrespectful tone;
• contain unlawful content or incitement to commit unlawful acts;
• contain offensive, misleading, alarmist content, or content violating the rights of third parties;
• disclose personal data or information that may cause harm to or damage the reputation of third parties;
• contain obscene, pornographic, or child pornographic material, or material likely to offend users’ sensitivities;
• contain discriminatory content based on gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, political opinions, sexual orientation, age, or personal and social conditions;
• promote or support illegal activities, violate copyright protection, or improperly use registered trademarks.

Users who repeatedly violate these conditions or those contained in the policies of the adopted platforms may, in accordance with the MAECI Social Media Policy, be banned or blocked (where possible after an initial warning) in order to prevent further interventions, and may be reported to the platform administrators and, where appropriate, to law enforcement authorities.

This office interacts with users through its social media profiles regarding requests for information received from users through daily monitoring.

Social media channels complement and do not replace the usual public access channels for information and assistance services. The office may also be contacted as indicated in the dedicated section of the website: Consulate Offices – Consolato Generale d’Italia Londra.