A former employee of Intesa Sanpaolo's Bitonto branch is under investigation for unauthorized access to thousands of bank accounts, including those of prominent Italian politicians.

The breach, which lasted for two years, was uncovered in August when a suspicious customer reported potential spying.

Among the accounts accessed were those of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, her family, and several ministers.

The employee has been dismissed and is now facing legal action.

The investigation, led by the Bari Prosecutor's Office, has revealed no organized espionage plan, but the scale of the breach has shocked the public.

This incident adds to a series of recent privacy violations in Italy, raising concerns about data security.