MILAN (Reuters) – Italian police have placed four individuals under house arrest as part of a probe into allegations of illegal access to state databases by a private intelligence business run by a former policeman, a source with direct knowledge of the matter revealed.
According to this source, the individuals targeted by the probe include Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, the son of late billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of Ray Ban-owner Luxottica. Del Vecchio, who passed away in 2022, allegedly tasked the intelligence agency with gathering information as his heirs are in disagreement over the inheritance.
The probe alleges that the business intelligence agency tapped into three key databases: one gathering alerts over suspicious financial activities, one used by the national tax agency, and one used by the police investigations database. This alleged breach raises concerns about the value placed on confidential information in Italy, with the national anti-mafia prosecutor describing the situation as a “gigantic market for confidential information” that has acquired a “business-like dimension.”
It’s not the first time Italy has faced a significant data breach, with a recent investigation into a large-scale data breach at the country’s top bank, Intesa Sanpaolo. The latest development underscores the importance of ensuring the security of sensitive information and protecting the privacy of individuals.
