The release of the Panama Papers detailing the offshore financial structures of wealthy clients - including prominent politicians and celebrities - is a crime, according to the law firm at the centre of the scandal.
Millions of documents have been leaked to media organisations across Europe apparently showing how the rich and famous can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes.
The files were leaked from the database of Mossack Fonseca, the world's fourth biggest offshore law firm.
Ramon Fonseca, one of the founders of the Panamanian firm, told AFP the data breach is a "crime" and an "attack" on Panama.
He said: "This is a crime, a felony. Privacy is a fundamental human right that is being eroded more and more in the modern world.
"Each person has a right to privacy, whether they are a king or a beggar."
Mr Fonseca said as yet there is no suspect in what he described as a "limited hack".
He added that Mossack Fonseca has never been "convicted or accused of any wrongdoing" in the past.
Governments and institutions across the globe have responded to the data breach, with many vowing to investigate.
HM Revenue and Customs has said it is prepared to follow up allegations of money laundering and tax avoidance in the wake of the revelations.
HMRC director general of enforcement and compliance Jennie Grainger said: "HMRC can confirm that we have already received a great deal of information on offshore companies, including in Panama, from a wide range of sources, which is currently the subject of an intensive investigation.
"Our message is clear: there are no safe havens for tax evaders and no-one should be in any doubt that the days of hiding money offshore are gone.
"The dishonest minority, who can most afford it, must pay their legal share of tax, like the honest majority already does."
Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela said his government will cooperate "vigorously" with any judicial inquiry arising from the leak.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) said it is investigating more than 800 wealthy clients of Mossack Fonseca for possible tax evasion.
New Zealand's tax agency is also "working closely" with its tax treaty partners to obtain details of any New Zealand residents who may be involved.
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