Overview
- Agostino Ghiglia, a member of Italy’s data protection authority, sent a formal notice to Rai demanding it halt Report and remove material he says was obtained through violations of his private communications.
- Rai reviewed the request and allowed the broadcast to proceed, citing the lack of a judicial order and warning that a stoppage would risk accusations of censorship and cause economic harm.
- Report aired at 22:20 and presented messages and internal chats, including an email reading “Tomorrow I’m going to Arianna,” alongside footage of Ghiglia visiting Fratelli d’Italia’s offices before the authority’s decision to fine the program €150,000 over a phone audio.
- Host Sigfrido Ranucci denied any theft or hacking of materials and characterized Ghiglia’s move as an attempt to gag public-service journalism and interrupt a public service.
- Opposition parties including PD, M5S and AVS called for Ghiglia’s immediate resignation, while he said he had been followed and claimed unlawful access to his office communications as he instructed lawyers to assess possible crimes.