French tax authority hacked: taxpayers hit by data theft consider legal action
Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers received an email from the French tax authority informing them of a leak of their tax data. Some are considering taking legal action against the state.
"Serious" breach at French tax authority: anger and fear among affected taxpayers
Hundreds of thousands of French taxpayers received an email this week from the Directorate General of Public Finances (DGFiP) informing them that their personal data had been compromised, according to Le Figaro. The breach, described as "serious" by the government on 13 August, was carried out by a pair of hackers operating under the name ZeroBytes.
Among the stolen data are reference tax income, family quotient, source withholding tax rate, and SIREN number for businesses. Sensitive information whose theft is causing both fear and indignation among victims.
"For the first time in my life I feel fear, the visceral fear of a family man," writes Arnaud, a business owner, on his X account. Contacted by Le Figaro, he makes no secret of his anger at the state, which he intends to hold responsible.
His case is not isolated. Several affected taxpayers mention a "real fear of being defrauded" following this leak, according to Le Figaro, and some are now considering taking steps to obtain compensation. The question of the fiscal administration's responsibility in securing the data of millions of French people is being raised with unprecedented urgency.
Source: Le Figaro