Italian police have arrested four individuals and are investigating dozens, including Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, for unauthorized access to state databases.
Charges include criminal conspiracy, illegal interception, falsification of electronic communications, disclosure of confidential information, aiding and abetting, and extortion.
The criminal ring allegedly collected a large amount of sensitive data and offered it to customers for various purposes, potentially including spying and blackmail.
Investigators suspect that foreign intelligence agencies may have also accessed the stolen data.