Hackers Expose Millions In Gucci and Balenciaga Data Breaches - 1

Image by Julien Tondu, from Unsplash

Hackers Expose Millions In Gucci and Balenciaga Data Breaches

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The hacking group ShinyHunters announced they obtained more than 50 million customer records from Gucci, Balenciaga, and other fashion brands under Kering.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Hackers gained access through Salesforce, a customer management platform.
  • Gucci’s breach reportedly involved 43 million records from 2017–2024.
  • Balenciaga ransom talks started at 10 Bitcoin, dropped to €750,000.

DataBreaches.net analyzed files and chat logs, which show that ShinyHunters executed multiple cyberattacks against Kering fashion brands: Gucci, Balenciaga, Brioni, and Alexander McQueen.

The stolen customer data included more than 50 million records, which exposed personal information including names, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdates, and purchase records. The hackers entered the brands’ systems through Salesforce, which serves as their customer management platform.

The hackers claim to have obtained 43 million Gucci records spanning from 2017 through April 2024. They also stole personal data from Balenciaga, Brioni, and Alexander McQueen, resulting in the exposure of 13 million customer records. The exact number of affected customers remains unknown, because Kering has not issued any public statements about these incidents.

In July, months after data was already taken, Kering published a new security policy highlighting the dangers of “information theft, sabotage, Social Engineering, [and] cyber terrorism.”

The company wrote:

“Protecting Information means ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the Information. If Information is lost, stolen, inappropriately disclosed, destroyed, modified, serious consequences may result for Kering such as: Loss of customers’ trust […] Loss of competitive advantage […] Loss of revenue.”

The negotiations between Balenciaga and the hackers continued for multiple weeks until the hackers rejected the €200,000 offer. The hackers then issued a final warning to Balenciaga before releasing the stolen data.

The lack of transparency from Kering about these cyber incidents puts millions of high-end fashion consumers at risk, while the company faces questions about its responsibility to protect customer data.

New Study Reveals NHS Struggles To Implement AI Diagnostic Tools - 2

Image by Ian Taylor, from Unsplash

New Study Reveals NHS Struggles To Implement AI Diagnostic Tools

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The £21 million AI chest diagnostics program from NHS England faced major delays, with procurement, IT challenges, and staff concerns slowing its rollout significantly.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • IT system differences delayed deployment across imaging networks.
  • Clinicians expressed concerns over accountability in AI diagnostic use.
  • Some networks lacked clear plans for informing patients about AI.

A new study reported that NHS England’s AI chest diagnostic program has proven far more complex and time-consuming than expected.

In July 2023, the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Fund (AIDF) of NHS England distributed £21 million to 12 imaging networks, which served 66 NHS Trusts. The program implemented AI technology to enhance chest diagnostic capabilities while reducing patient wait times and decreasing staff workload.

The research team from University College London and their partners conducted a fast evaluation between March and September 2024 to study the acquisition and deployment readiness of AI tools. The researchers conducted 51 interviews, observed 57 planning meetings, and analyzed 166 documents to understand the entire process.

The study found that the procurement process extended beyond expectations as networks needed to form evaluation panels, conduct tender reviews, and manage supplier complaints about non-selection.

Contracts, initially expected in November 2023, were only signed months later.

The deployment also faced seatbacks as different healthcare facilities operated with incompatible IT systems, followed distinct governance protocols, and maintained varying levels of data quality.

Staff training was another hurdle. Some clinicians worried about accountability if AI missed a diagnosis. While training made clear that “AI should only act as decision support,” not replace human judgment, concerns lingered. Patient communication also varied: some networks planned posters or leaflets, while others had no clear strategy.

The research identified three key success factors, which included effective leadership, dedicated project managers, and clinical champions who supported the initiative. The networks achieved better results through their mutual exchange of professional knowledge.

The authors concluded: “Implementing AI involved complex social and technical processes, requiring significant resources.” They warned that, while AI may improve diagnostics, it will not fix NHS pressures as easily as policymakers hope.

The project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).