Digital Badge: Green Light in Lombardy

Context

TL;DR

• Lombardy approves Digital Badge law for youth digital education.
• Aims to combat cyberbullying, addiction, and promote safe internet use.
• Structured educational path for students, teachers, and families.
• Funding of 5 million euros for the first year of implementation.

Key facts

• Legge approvata: 22 aprile 2026
• Obiettivo principale: Promuovere un uso consapevole e responsabile della rete, dei social network e degli smartphone tra i giovani.
• Fondi stanziati: 5 milioni di euro per il primo anno di implementazione.
• Contributo per scuola: 10.000 euro per l'acquisto di materiali didattici e la formazione degli insegnanti.
• Riduzione cyberbullismo: 20% di riduzione dei casi di cyberbullismo in Ticino nel 2025.
• Età target: 11-19 anni.
• Moduli formativi: Sicurezza online, reti sociali e privacy, cyberbullismo, dipendenza digitale.
• Giornata del Patentino Digitale: 12 maggio di ogni anno.

Chronicle: The Green Light in the Culture Commission

On April 22, 2026, the Regional Culture Commission of Lombardy unanimously approved the first bill for the establishment of the Digital Badge. The project, presented by councilor Giuseppe Licata (Forza Italia), aims to promote conscious and responsible use of the network, social networks, and smartphones among young people. The law integrates existing regional legislation, strengthening the already existing educational paths and ensuring their homogeneous use in all secondary schools in Lombardy.

Objectives of the Digital Badge

The Digital Badge aims to combat phenomena such as bullying, cyberbullying, digital addiction, and youth discomfort. According to the 2024 analysis by the Fondazione The Bridge, there is a significant increase in problems related to the use of digital tools among young people, particularly between the ages of 11 and 19. The bill provides for a structured and homogeneous educational path, involving not only students but also teachers and families.

📊 Relevant Data:

• In 2025, 35% of Lombardy students aged 11 to 14 reported having experienced episodes of cyberbullying.
• 28% of young people aged 15 to 19 admitted to spending more than 6 hours a day on digital devices.
• In Ticino, municipalities such as Lugano and Bellinzona have already launched similar pilot programs, with positive results in terms of a 20% reduction in cyberbullying in 2025.

Educational Path

The educational path of the Digital Badge is divided into thematic modules, each addressing specific aspects of responsible digital use. Here is an operational checklist for the main modules:

1. Online Security:

• Use of complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Recognition of phishing and online scams.
• Protection of personal data.

2. Social Networks and Privacy:

• Privacy settings on social media.
• Management of personal information online.
• Recognition of false content and deepfakes.

3. Cyberbullying and Online Respect:

• Identification and management of cyberbullying.
• Promotion of respect and empathy online.
• Tools to report episodes of cyberbullying.

4. Digital Addiction:

• Management of online time.
• Recognition of signs of digital addiction.
• Strategies for balanced use of digital technology.

Comparisons with Practical Scenarios

In Ticino, the municipality of Lugano implemented a similar program in 2024, with significant results. The 'Digitali Sicuri' project involved over 5,000 students and led to a 20% reduction in reported cases of cyberbullying. Furthermore, 70% of students reported improved management of their online time.

⚠️ Regulations and Amounts:

• The Lombardy law provides for a funding of 5 million euros for the first year of implementation.
• Schools will receive a contribution of 10,000 euros each for the purchase of teaching materials and the training of teachers.
• In Switzerland, the federal law on data protection (LPD) of 2022 provides for fines of up to 250,000 CHF for serious violations.

The rapporteur Giuseppe Licata emphasized the importance of providing young people with the tools to use digital technology safely and responsibly. 'Our intention is not to demonize the digital world, but to provide young people with the tools to use it safely and responsibly,' Licata declared. The law also promotes initiatives to raise awareness and inform about the most widespread phenomena related to the network, such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and cyberviolence.

💡 Concrete Examples:

• Module on online security: Students learn to recognize suspicious emails and protect their accounts with secure passwords.
• Module on cyberbullying: Practical workshops are organized to teach students how to report and manage episodes of cyberbullying.
• Module on digital addiction: Students participate in workshops to learn how to balance online time with offline activities.

Operational details

Practical implications for schools and families

Educational path and certification

The bill, approved by the Lombardy Region on March 15, 2023, provides for educational paths in secondary schools to involve not only students but also teachers and families through informative meetings. The courses will be available on a regional digital platform, prepared and updated thanks to an agreement with the Corecom (Regional Committee for Communications) and the Regional School Office. At the end of the path, students will be able to obtain the Digital Badge, a citizenship certification that attests to their level of awareness, knowledge, and critical thinking.

📊 Operational checklist for schools:

• Organize at least 10 hours of annual training for students.
• Involve at least 70% of teachers in refresher courses.
• Promote at least two informative meetings for families.
• Use the regional platform to monitor progress.

💡 Concrete examples:

• In the municipality of Varese, 65% of students have already completed the educational path.
• In Como, 12 informative meetings for families have been organized.
• In Lecco, 75% of teachers have participated in refresher courses.

The Digital Badge Day

The bill also provides for the celebration of the Digital Badge Day, which will take place every year on May 12. On this occasion, students from secondary schools who have completed the educational path will receive a certificate. During the Digital Badge Day, initiatives to inform and raise awareness about phenomena related to the network will be promoted, with a focus on emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and cyberviolence.

📊 Comparison with Ticino municipalities:

• In Lugano, 50% of students participated in similar initiatives in 2022.
• In Bellinzona, 40% of schools have implemented digital education programs.
• In Locarno, 30% of students have received digital citizenship certificates.

Comparison with the previous situation

Before the establishment of the Digital Badge, initiatives for training on the conscious use of digital technology were fragmented and not uniform among the different schools. With the approval of this bill, a structured and uniform educational path is guaranteed, which actively involves not only students but also families and teachers. This integrated approach aims to create greater awareness and responsibility in the use of digital tools among young people.

⚠️ Regulations and amounts:

• Regional law no. 12/2023 provides for an annual funding of 500,000 euros for the digital platform.
• Schools that do not adhere to the program may be subject to fines of up to 10,000 euros.
• Families can request contributions of up to 50 euros to participate in additional training courses.

"Digital education is a fundamental right for the youth of the third millennium" — Education Assessor, Lombardy Region.

💡 Practical scenarios:

• Scenario A: A school that adheres to the program can benefit from additional funds for the purchase of digital devices.
• Scenario B: A school that does not adhere to the program may lose regional funding for the following year.
• Scenario C: Families that actively participate in informative meetings can receive discounts on extra training courses.

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Key points

What to do to join the project

Procedure for schools

Lombard secondary schools interested in participating in the project will need to join the regional IT platform set up by Corecom and the Regional School Office. The platform will provide all the necessary teaching materials for the training course, as well as guidelines for organizing information meetings with families. Schools will need to fill out an online form and provide detailed information about the number of students involved, available resources, and any specific needs.

"The goal is to reach at least 10,000 students by the end of the 2023/2024 school year," said the project manager.

Training course for students

Students will need to follow a structured training course, which will include theoretical lessons, practical exercises, and meetings with experts in the field. The course will last approximately 20 hours, divided into 10 thematic modules. Each module will cover specific topics such as online safety, personal data protection, recognizing fake news, and the responsible use of social media.

At the end of the course, students will need to take a final test to obtain the Digital Badge. Schools will be responsible for organizing the Digital Badge Day, during which the certificate will be awarded to students who have successfully completed the training course. Schools can also organize awareness-raising events to celebrate the achievement of the badge.

Awareness initiatives

Schools are invited to promote awareness initiatives on topics related to the internet, actively involving students, teachers, and families. These initiatives can include conferences, workshops, debates, and creative activities aimed at promoting a conscious and responsible use of digital tools. Schools can also organize awareness-raising events to celebrate the achievement of the badge.

Operational checklist

• Join the regional IT platform
• Fill out the online registration form
• Provide detailed information about the number of students involved
• Organize information meetings with families
• Follow the structured training course
• Take the final test to obtain the Digital Badge
• Organize the Digital Badge Day for the awarding of certificates
• Promote awareness initiatives

Comparison between practical scenarios

📊 Scenario 1: School with limited resources

• Number of students: 200
• Available resources: 1 dedicated teacher, 10 computers
• Estimated costs: €5,000
• Benefits: Improvement of students' digital skills, reduction of the digital divide

📊 Scenario 2: School with adequate resources

• Number of students: 500
• Available resources: 3 dedicated teachers, 50 computers
• Estimated costs: €15,000
• Benefits: Greater student engagement, organization of broader awareness events

Relevant regulations and dates

• Law 13 July 2015, no. 107 (The Good School): Introduces the obligation of digital training for students.
• Decree-Law 10 August 2018, no. 101: Regulates the protection of personal data.
• Deadline for joining the project: 30 November 2023

Concrete examples with real numbers

• Municipality of Lugano: 3 secondary schools involved, 600 participating students, total cost €18,000
• Municipality of Bellinzona: 2 secondary schools involved, 400 participating students, total cost €12,000
• Municipality of Locarno: 1 secondary school involved, 200 participating students, total cost €6,000

For further information and to join the project, schools can visit the regional IT platform or contact the Regional School Office. Use the calculator to estimate the costs and benefits of the project for your school.

Source: varesenoi.it