Milan: privacy regulator restricts processing of a child's images

In its press release “Scontri di Milano: Garante Privacy blocca le immagini dell’undicenne” of 28 October 2026, Italy’s data protection authority reports an urgent intervention by its President concerning two television broadcasters and four online news outlets. The measure provisionally restricts the processing of personal data and images of an eleven-year-old involved in disorder during demonstrations in Milan.

According to the authority, the published content made the child identifiable through images and other personal details, potentially causing serious harm to the child’s development. The regulator reiterates that a child’s privacy takes precedence over the right to report news, regardless of the child’s role in the events, and that the public interest can be served without making the children involved identifiable.

The press release states that the holders of the images must report the measures taken within three days. It also warns anyone that further dissemination of identifying content may breach privacy law, reserving further assessments until the investigation concludes. The full text of the order has not been consulted: the scope of the measure and the reporting deadline are described on the basis of the official announcement.