A group of tram drivers in Milan have been suspended from their roles as an investigation commences into a WhatsApp group where they allegedly exchanged sexist and vulgar comments about images of female passengers. Prosecutors in Milan have placed at least one employee of ATM, the city's public transport company, under formal investigation. The individual is suspected of accessing an IT system without authorisation and potentially hacking into the CCTV network to obtain images of women.
Reports in the Italian press indicate that searches have been ordered at the homes of five other male employees, with their mobile phones and other electronic devices confiscated as part of the ongoing inquiry. It is alleged that the drivers commented on photographs, believed to be taken from CCTV footage, that focused on specific body parts of female passengers, including their legs, faces, breasts, and thighs.
The allegations came to light after an incident on Saturday when a woman travelling on a number 15 tram noticed an off-duty driver, who was still in uniform and seated in front of her, viewing a WhatsApp group chat on his phone. The chat reportedly contained these images alongside sexist remarks and jokes about the women's bodies. Recognising that the images originated from CCTV, which is installed on all Milan trams for safety, the passenger photographed the chat on the driver's screen and sent it to a prominent feminist activist, who then reported the matter to ATM.
ATM has issued a statement confirming an internal inquiry is underway. The company stated it has "acted promptly and with the utmost attention to fully clarify the episode, verify the proper use of company tools, protect customers and the thousands of employees who work correctly every day in service of the city." It remains unclear whether the images were sourced from the CCTV system of a single tram or multiple vehicles, or if they were distributed beyond the immediate group chat.
Marco Maria Donzelli, the Lombardy president for Codacons, an Italian consumer watchdog that has filed a formal complaint with Milan prosecutors, described the situation as "a very serious incident that requires clarity." He added that if the emerging facts are confirmed, they could constitute serious offences under Italian criminal law, potentially leading to civil claims for compensation from the victims. Transport union leaders have also issued a joint statement, emphasising that "respect for human dignity and gender equality are essential values."