Suspected aiding and abetting crimes by French tax authorities staff: Data leak incident involving cryptocurrency holders

Recently, an information leak incident within the French tax authorities was reported. Suspected of aiding criminal activities by a former tax official, it was revealed that sensitive data of cryptocurrency holders may have been systematically leaked. This incident serves as a serious warning not only for France but for financial security across Europe.

Abuse of Database Access Due to Internal Fraud

According to a report by PANews on January 9, citing French media reports, former tax official Galia C. allegedly abused her authority to access confidential tax databases and collected personal information of potential targets, including virtual currency investors. She has been convicted of aiding organized crime and is currently appealing her sentence.

Investigations revealed that she exploited her database access rights to systematically extract confidential information of crypto asset investors. The data included not only their holdings but also their location information and detailed data related to capital gains.

Security Risks: Threats of Location Data and Capital Gain Leaks

Considering the nature of the leaked data, cryptocurrency holders are likely to face multiple criminal risks. The leakage of location information increases the risk of physical assaults and break-ins, while the exposure of capital gain data could be exploited as targeted assets.

Currently, there is no direct evidence that Galia C. actually planned physical attacks. However, what this incident has exposed is the reality that tax authorities are not just data management agencies but can also be sources of serious data breaches.

Warning in Strengthening Surveillance in Europe: New Risks for Cryptocurrency Holders

As European tax authorities tighten monitoring of virtual currency assets, this incident highlights another important aspect. The increased surveillance itself may heighten security threats for holders.

If the authorities’ data security measures are inadequate, personal information collected for monitoring purposes could be more easily leaked and misused through internal misconduct. The French case exemplifies how internal fraud, including aiding criminal activities, can cause severe damage, urging tax authorities across Europe to fundamentally improve their security systems.