- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Italy · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
DPA case no. 9860513 – Violation Found (Italy, 2023)
Privacy enforcement record
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An Italian newspaper published sensitive health information about a mafia boss, leading to a review by the Garante. The authority found that the newspaper did not meet privacy standards when sharing this information. This case highlights the need for careful consideration of privacy in journalism.
What happened
A newspaper disclosed sensitive health information about a mafia boss without adhering to necessary privacy standards.
Who was affected
The mafia boss whose health status was publicly reported by the newspaper.
What the authority found
The Garante determined that the newspaper violated privacy principles by failing to justify the publication of sensitive data.
Why this matters
This case serves as a crucial reminder for media outlets to prioritize privacy rights while reporting on matters of public interest. It underscores the importance of ethical journalism.
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Automated check recorded — 18 October 2026.
Processing notes: articles corrected, national law identified.
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A mafia boss was caught after 30 years of hiding during a medical treatment in a private hospital. A newspaper published detailed information on his state of health and more specifically about the fact that he was terminally ill. The Italian DPA intervened to ascertain whether the processing of personal data was legitimate. The Italian DPA stroke a balance between freedom of information and right to privacy. Health data are sensitive data covered by Article 9 GDPR. According to Article 137 of the Italian Data Protection Code, health data can be processed without the data subject´s consent provided that the controller complies with the principle of essentiality of information and the facts are of public interest. In addition, the controller shall respect the deontological rules governing journalism. In the present case, the Italian DPA found that the principle of essentiality was violated. Thus, it imposed the temporary limitation of processing concerning data already published and equivalent ones.
Outcome
Violation Found
The DPA found a violation but did not impose a fine.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for DPA case no. 9860513 in IT
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Decision Date
18 January 2023
Authority
Garante per la protezione dei dati personali
GDPRhub ID
gdprhub-5722About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. DPA case no. 9860513 - Italy (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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