- Enforcing jurisdiction
- Italy · Geography does not establish applicable law.
- Confirmed applicable legislation
- Privacy topics
DPA case no. 9860529 – Violation Found (Italy, 2023)
Privacy enforcement record
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A mafia boss's health information was published by a newspaper, raising privacy concerns. The Italian DPA intervened and found that the publication violated privacy rules regarding sensitive health data. This case illustrates the balance between public interest and individual privacy rights.
What happened
A newspaper published details about a mafia boss's terminal illness without proper justification.
Who was affected
The mafia boss whose sensitive health information was disclosed to the public.
What the authority found
The DPA ruled that the publication did not meet the necessary conditions for processing sensitive health data under privacy laws.
Why this matters
This ruling reinforces the importance of protecting sensitive personal information, even in cases of public interest. Media outlets should be cautious when reporting on health-related matters.
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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. 9860529 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-5723About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. DPA case no. 9860529 - Italy (2023). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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