"Pillars 2023", "relays of influence 2024", "LR members" or even "Pink file" containing hundreds of names and indications: did Eric Ciotti illegally file citizens?
Does the Côte d'Azur MP and UDR departmental representative, Éric Ciotti, a likely future candidate for mayor of Nice, hold a computer file - or rather several files - containing illicit personal data and is he using them for electoral purposes? This is what the Nice prosecutor's office is seeking to determine.
Last May, the public prosecutor, Damien Martinelli, opened a preliminary investigation into the charge of "recording or storing sensitive personal data without the consent of the persons concerned" .
SearchesThey notably visited the office of the Department's Director General of Services, then those of two of Éric Ciotti's parliamentary staff, also employees of the Côte d'Azur community, according to a well-informed source. Computer data was seized, the prosecutor's office revealed.
According to our information, it is an article 40 dated May 16th which is at the origin of these investigations carried out by the Nice public prosecutor's office.
The report was written by a citizen who wishes to remain anonymous and is requesting whistleblower status. According to Eric Ciotti's entourage, it is "a former close associate who has joined the Estrosi camp."
Parliamentary assistants' offices visited"I have become aware of facts of particular gravity," writes this "whistleblower." Before listing these facts: "The creation of an illegal file of personal data without a legal basis. (...) The massive collection of data deemed sensitive within the meaning (...) of the law: political opinions, religious affiliation, state of health. And the potentially discriminatory and political use of this data for personal and electoral purposes."
And he doesn't beat around the bush. "These acts were committed by Éric Ciotti (...) in the course of his duties," continues the "citizen" who then guides the investigators by explaining where they can find the incriminating files, even citing assistants of the Côte d'Azur MP who may be in possession of them.
"The very nature of these files, their content and their potential use raise serious breaches of privacy," he wrote to the public prosecutor. He said he sent him a USB key containing the files.
And he didn't just alert the courts. The same letter was sent to the president of the CNIL, the French National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties.
Known and unknown filesIn these various files, which we obtained and named "Pillars 2023", "Relays of influence 2024", "LR members 2022, 2023, 2024" or even "Rose file", without us understanding this name, hundreds and hundreds of names are accompanied by the contact details of the person and certain observations.
Who is the president of a neighborhood committee and a possible "EC supporter." Who, again, is the president of a boules club and a relay for "aperitifs" during election periods. Some of the "listed" are ordinary citizens. Others are elected officials, community activists, or well-known lawyers...
But some data appear much more personal, such as community membership or religion. These are presidents of Jewish associations, such as Jérôme Culioli, president of CRIF Sud-Est, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France.
Or priests, like Gil Florini, identified as being "of Christian faith." "At no time were ordinary voters listed by their religion or community," said a close friend of Eric Ciotti who wished to remain anonymous.
Article 226-19 of the Penal CodeIf the courts find that personal data has been improperly collected and used, this could be punishable by law.
Article 226-19 of the Criminal Code (1) punishes the unlawful collection of personal data revealing a person's racial or ethnic origins, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, as well as data relating to health or sexual life.
1. The act, except in cases provided for by law, of placing or storing in computer memory, without the express consent of the person concerned, personal data which, directly or indirectly, reveal racial origins or political, philosophical or religious opinions or trade union membership or the morals of persons is punishable by five years' imprisonment.
Var-Matin
