Eliminalia
Eliminalia, which adopted the name 'Idata Protection' in January 2023, is a Spanish firm specializing in reputation management, established in 2011 by entrepreneur Diego Sánchez, also known as Dídac Sánchez. The company maintains its technical operations in Kyiv, Ukraine, while its main offices are distributed between Barcelona, Spain, and Kyiv. It functions as a subsidiary of Maidan Holdings, a holding company based in Miami.
Focusing on safeguarding and enhancing clients' online reputations, Eliminalia provides services designed to control digital footprints. In 2015, the company extended complimentary assistance to individuals impacted by the Ashley Madison data breach, a strategic initiative aimed at expanding its influence amid a widely publicized privacy incident.
By the year 2020, Eliminalia had expanded its workforce to 85 staff members and earned notable industry distinctions such as the Technology Innovator Awards 2020 from AI Global Media and Cyber Security Company of the Year by Corporate LiveWire. These honors underscore its strong positioning within cybersecurity and reputation management markets.
In 2021, the NGO Qurium accused Eliminalia of employing contentious business methods that involved creating counterfeit websites hosting backdated articles, alongside legal maneuvers like DMCA takedown requests and GDPR complaints. This tactic sought to remove unfavorable news concerning corruption allegations linked to Isabel dos Santos and Vincent Miclet in Angola, sparking scrutiny over the ethical standards and operational practices of the company internationally.
Internal documents leak
A 2023 breach exposing roughly 50,000 internal files to the French nonprofit Forbidden Stories unveiled that Eliminalia utilized 'blackhat tactics' to aid clients across 50 nations—including convicted criminals, corrupt officials, and spyware firms—in eliminating damaging online information. The investigation revealed that the company resorted to intimidating journalists and generating fabricated news on websites connected to its parent entity, Maidan Holdings.
Eliminalia exploited "right to be forgotten" regulations by dispatching forged copyright infringement claims and emails impersonating the European Commission to remove unwanted content. Its client roster included individuals involved in drug trafficking convictions, Venezuelan government officials, money launderers tied to organized crime networks, former banking executives, and others implicated in illicit global activities. Several clients were reportedly charged with offenses such as money laundering, illegal arms trading, and cryptocurrency fraud.
As of January 2023, Eliminalia rebranded under the name Idata Protection.