A massive data breach scandal has rocked Italy after it was revealed that personal information of high-profile politicians, including President Sergio Mattarella and former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, was stolen from a central database at the Interior Ministry.
At the heart of the case is 44-year-old IT consultant Nunzio Samuele Calamucci, accused of orchestrating an extensive data breach operation from a room behind Milan’s cathedral.
Italian authorities disclosed that Calamucci, a member of Anonymous and known for rumored international hacking activities including the Pentagon, allegedly led a team of software engineers working with the Interior Ministry on maintaining sensitive databases.
According to a 518-page court document cited by Politico, Calamucci and his team would intercept large quantities of personal data during off-peak hours, including financial records, police investigations, and phone surveillance data.
The breach has ignited a political crisis, prompting calls for a full parliamentary investigation. Renzi, leader of Italia Viva, remarked, “As an Italian, I am outraged, as this incident threatens democracy and privacy.”
The private investigation firm Equalize, run by former senior police officer Carmine Gallo and overseen by Enrico Pazzali, president of Fondazione Fiera Milano, is implicated in the breach. Corriere della Sera reported that Equalize appeared to operate with only basic utility contracts but, upon police inspection, was found to house servers and computer equipment in a storage room.
The firm’s revenues jumped significantly during the COVID-19 years, peaking at €335,506 in 2021. Equalize operates from the same address as another firm linked to the duo, located at Patari Street 6.
Despite Calamucci’s low social media profile, he has become a notable figure among private security services and intelligence agencies due to his technical expertise.
Evidence from intercepted conversations indicates that Calamucci boasted of accessing information on 800,000 individuals, later selling the data or using it to blackmail business figures and politicians.
Profits from this operation are estimated at over €3.1 million, with clients accessing stolen information through malware.
Following the revelations, four people were arrested, including Gallo, Calamucci, private investigator Massimiliano Camponovo, and security company owner Giulio Corneli.
This scandal has sparked outrage across Italy’s political landscape. Antonio Tajani warned that the incident “threatens the Republic,” while Senate President Ignazio La Russa described it as “unheard of and infuriating.”
Opposition leaders demanded answers from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, calling for a thorough investigation and stricter hacking penalties.
Meloni acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pledged immediate action, while the Justice Ministry announced plans to establish a special committee to protect national databases.
Italy’s Data Protection Authority has promised an in-depth investigation to ensure the security of national information systems, as the inquiry continues to uncover further details of the breach’s scope and impact.
