DEMOB-HAPPY politicians have published details of every Italian taxpayer's earnings on the web.

The data was posted unannounced and remained accessible for 24 hours before authorities acted on complaints. The Italian treasury has now suspended access to the site after millions tried to check up on everybody else in the country. Within hours, the site was groaning under the strain.

The finance ministry claimed publication of tax and earnings figures was a bid to improve transparency, but cynics are suggesting that the leak - just days before the outgoing administration hands over to new Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was mischief-making by a government voted in on a promise to tighten up Italy's rather relaxed attitude to paying tax. µ

L'Inq
BBC