Key facts
- Milan prosecutors are investigating a WhatsApp group of tram drivers.
- The drivers allegedly shared images of female passengers obtained from onboard security cameras.
- The investigation focuses on unauthorized access to an IT system.
- Police have conducted searches and at least one person is under investigation.
- The incident came to light when a passenger observed a driver viewing the chat.
- Milan's public transport operator ATM has launched its own internal investigation.
Milan prosecutors have initiated an investigation into a WhatsApp group comprising approximately a dozen tram drivers who are alleged to have shared images of female passengers captured by onboard security cameras. Sources with direct knowledge stated that the probe is centered on unauthorized access to an IT system, with at least one individual currently under investigation. Police have also conducted multiple searches in connection with the case.
The situation surfaced recently when a woman on a tram in Milan observed an off-duty driver, still in uniform, viewing a chat on his phone. The chat reportedly contained images focused on women's bodies, believed by investigators to have been sourced from the tram's security cameras, along with accompanying comments and jokes shared by group members. The woman documented the screen with a photograph and subsequently contacted an Instagram influencer, who brought the matter to public attention.
Following the public disclosure, Milan's public transport operator, ATM, announced on Sunday that it had commenced an internal investigation. The company stated its commitment to fully clarifying the episode, verifying the proper use of company tools, and protecting both customers and its employees. Surveillance cameras are a standard feature on public transport for the safety of passengers and staff. The woman's complaint, later supported by the consumer association Codacons, detailed how images of women on trams were allegedly obtained from CCTV systems and disseminated within the employees' WhatsApp group.