Television presenter Stefano De Martino has initiated legal action after intimate footage captured by his Rome home’s surveillance system was illegally obtained and disseminated online. Formal complaints target both those who published offensive posts about De Martino’s family and users retaining the images.
De Martino’s lawyers, Angelo and Sergio Pisani, filed the complaint with Porto Cervo State Police and Rome’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, providing digital traces to identify perpetrators. The footage—reportedly removed from some platforms following legal intervention—was allegedly stolen by hackers who breached the surveillance system, violating the host’s privacy.
The legal team urged the public to delete privately shared photos/videos lacking consent, warning that users risk serious charges for handling others’ personal data and fueling illicit markets. The complaint seeks investigations to block further distribution under charges of “unauthorized distribution of sexually explicit material.”
Any compensation awarded will be donated to children’s charities and anti-cyberbullying initiatives, lawyers confirmed. Their inquiry also uncovered offensive comments targeting De Martino and his relatives.
Privacy Regulator Blocks Dissemination**
Italy’s Privacy Guarantor ordered an immediate and permanent ban on sharing the footage following De Martino’s complaint, citing illicit extraction from his partner’s home surveillance. The regulator warned that further dissemination would likely be unlawful and initiated a formal investigation. Violators face corrective or punitive measures.
“The dissemination of private intimate content—even of public figures—can cause grave, irreparable harm,” the Guarantor stated, emphasizing the severe impact on those involved.
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