LinkedIn Faces Italian Probe After Users’ Data Is Hacked

(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.’s LinkedIn faces a probe by the Italian privacy watchdog following a leak of personal data, including names and phone numbers of users.

The Italian authority said in a statement late on Thursday that it started an investigation following “the dissemination of user data, including IDs, full names, email addresses, telephone numbers.”

The regulator warned that anyone getting hold of such data and using it could face sanctions. It said Italy has one of the highest number of subscribers to LinkedIn in Europe and called on affected users to “pay particular attention to any anomalies” related to their phone number and their account.

LinkedIn didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Italian move comes after Ireland’s privacy authority said it was looking into a leak over the weekend of the personal data of more than half a billion Facebook Inc. users.

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, took effect in May 2018, paving the way for national authorities in the region to levy fines on companies that violate the rules of as much as 4% of annual sales.

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