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Electronic identity card tampering in Italy

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2026-10-09 09:08 UTC → 2026-10-10 14:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Authorities in Italy have reported multiple instances of individuals tampering with electronic identity cards (CIE) by removing the integrated microchips. In Macerata, a 45-year-old worker was reported for material forgery after presenting a card with a “clean, square hole” where the microchip had been removed. In Carini, a 33-year-old man was reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office after an officer noticed a “surgical” removal of the internal microchip. The trend has continued in the Acerra region, where Carabinieri officers seized a tampered document during a routine patrol, marking the third such incident in the area within a few days. In Lauro, a 37-year-old man was reported for material falsehood after presenting a CIE with a missing chip. Investigations indicated the tampering was intended to prevent the reading of biometric and digital data, a growing phenomenon where individuals obstruct automated verification systems at banks, airports, and public offices to avoid perceived digital tracking. Recent activity in the province of Naples shows a surge in these incidents, with four separate cases of tampered or counterfeit CIEs reported within a 24-hour period across Rione Traiano, the Mercato area, Marano, and Capri. These cases have intersected with other criminal activities, including an arrest involving a firearm and counterfeit ID in Rione Traiano, and the interception of a 22-year-old with narcotics and a chip-less card in Marano. Investigators have noted that in several instances, the microchips had been “surgically removed” from the cards, potentially to be reused for creating fraudulent identities. Authorities note that this tampering is increasingly linked to drug trafficking and fraud across various social contexts. Law enforcement officials emphasize that while social media theories link chip removal to concerns over digital tracking, the primary security risks involve identity fraud and the compromise of digital identification systems.

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