Chiara Nava Autistici/Inventati announces the suspension of its services after more than twenty years of activity. The decision comes after a dispute involving the collective, the financial system, and even Italian and European political and institutional circles. The infrastructure, founded in 2001 in the context of hacktivism and media activism, has over the years provided servers, email accounts, and other digital services to collectives, associations, activists, and independent media.
The turning point was primarily the designation of Autistici/Inventati as a global terrorist organization by the United States , which had concrete financial and digital consequences. The domain was blocked, problems emerged with PayPal, and Banca Etica suspended the association's account, citing the risk of possible secondary US sanctions.
The collective explained that it did not want to continue in a situation that could put the people who use its services at risk. " We must stop ," the activists said, emphasizing that every day of activity after August 26th was considered a sort of achievement.
The Paolo De Rosa case and its connection with AI ODV
Paolo De Rosa , known in the hacker community as Phasa and now an official at the European Commission, where he deals with digital identity issues, has also come under scrutiny . He previously worked on the Digital Transformation Team at Palazzo Chigi during the Gentiloni, Conte, and Draghi governments. His institutional career is intertwined with previous work in the Autistici/Inventati community . In 2018, according to documentation reconstructed by the press, De Rosa joined the board of directors of AI ODV , taking on the role of secretary. The association is the entity through which Autistici/Inventati's servers are legally managed and through which donations are also processed.
His experience in the public sector also includes activities related to SPID , pagoPA, the IO app, Immuni, and Green Pass . It is precisely the overlap between his professional background and his previous involvement in the association that has attracted political attention.
From here came requests for clarification and the announcement of questions and complaints from representatives of the Brothers of Italy party. Augusta Montaruli and Carlo Fidanza asked for further clarification on the relationship between De Rosa and AI ODV and the compatibility of that activity with the institutional roles he held over the years.
From sanctions to closure: what remains of the affair
It is important, however, to distinguish political and journalistic protests from potential judicial investigations . The American designation concerns Autistici/Inventati and does not, in itself, constitute a personal accusation against De Rosa nor an Italian judicial investigation against him. Meanwhile, the collective reaffirms its history and the role it has played over the years. Its coverage has also featured members of the No Tav, anarchist, and opposition groups, as well as numerous organizations engaged in activism and independent communication.
On the financial front, Banca Etica , which had a relationship with A/I since 2018, explained that it had temporarily suspended operations due to the risk associated with US sanctions. This decision further exacerbated an already complex situation.
Now, with the announcement of its closure, an important part of Autistici/Inventati's history has come to an end. However, questions remain regarding the relationship between the association's structure, its activities over the years, and the professional backgrounds of some of those involved. There are currently no definitive conclusions on these aspects , while the case continues to be at the center of political and institutional debate.