Acqui Terme AI virtual assistant Eva Statiella Facebook profile sparks identity theft controversy

The municipality of Acqui Terme has developed an artificial‑intelligence based virtual assistant called Eva Statiella. A Facebook page bearing the same name has amassed more than 1,300 friends, but Mayor Danilo Rapetti says the profile was neither created nor managed by the city administration. Opposition councilors Franca Roso, Elena Trentini and Carlo De Lorenzi allege the page constitutes a digital identity theft, questioning who truly governs the project and who is responsible for its online content.

They note that the domain linked to the initiative appears to be registered in the mayor’s name rather than the municipality’s, and they demand clarification on accountability, cybersecurity, data‑privacy safeguards, costs and legal compliance. As one councilor put it, “Leggiamo con un certo stupore che il sindaco oggi si preoccupa del presunto ‘furto d’identità’ dell’assessora virtuale Eva Statiella.”