Milan prosecutors have opened an investigation into a WhatsApp group in which about a dozen tram drivers in the city exchanged comments about photos of female passengers taken by security cameras in the vehicles, two sources directly familiar with the case told Reuters yesterday.
The investigation is focusing on alleged unauthorized access to an information system, and at least one person is under investigation, the sources said, adding that police have also conducted multiple searches.
The case came to light in recent days, after a woman traveling on a tram in Milan noticed an off-duty driver, still in uniform, sitting next to her and looking at a chat on his phone that contained photos of female body parts taken on public transportation.
The woman took a photo of the screen, which showed images that investigators believe were taken from in-vehicle cameras, along with comments and jokes about the bodies of female passengers shared by members of the group.
She later contacted an Instagram influencer, who brought the case to the public. On Sunday, Milan's public transport operator ATM said it had launched an internal investigation.
"ATM reacted quickly and with the utmost care to fully shed light on this case, verify the proper use of company tools, and protect users and thousands of employees who conscientiously work in the service of the city every day," the company stated.
Surveillance cameras are installed on public transportation to protect both passengers and staff.
According to the woman's complaint, which was later joined by the consumer association Codacons, images of women traveling on trams were obtained from the video surveillance system and shared in an employees' WhatsApp group.
The issue of misogyny on the internet sparked outrage in Italy last year, when Giorgia Meloni spoke out after an adult website published unauthorized and manipulated photos of women, including the prime minister herself.
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