Italian Police Uncover Massive Data Breach, Luxottica Heir Implicated

The Italian police are investigating a case of unauthorized access to government databases, which has led to the house arrest of four individuals and inquiries involving dozens of others, including Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, the son of Luxottica’s founder.

A source informed Reuters that the investigation uncovered illegal operations with confidential information, reportedly involving the sale of data to clients or its use in blackmailing businessmen and politicians.

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, the son of billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of the renowned Ray-Ban brand, is viewed as a victim based on initial accusations and the results of a search that failed to implicate him. Currently, Del Vecchio awaits the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, intending to prove his innocence alongside his legal team.

According to investigators, unauthorized access was facilitated through a private intelligence agency headed by a former police officer. Agency staff allegedly had access to key databases, including the financial monitoring system, tax records with transaction histories, utility bills, income declarations, and police databases containing investigative materials. Documents indicate that the agency actively exploited these resources from 2019 until March 2024.

The prosecutor’s office emphasized that the case reveals the scale of the confidential information market, which has taken on an almost commercial dimension. The authorities noted that the situation is a serious concern, as access to personal data has become a source of illicit income and highlights deficiencies in the protection of information within government systems.