Italian foreign minister says hackers leaked his personal data on the dark web

Italy's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani has said cyber-criminals have spent several days publishing his personal data on the dark web and seeking more information about him. He made the statement in a post on X, saying it exposes him to new threats and intimidation. The dark web is a part of the internet that common search engines do not index and that can be reached only with specialist software.

Link to support for Ukraine

The minister did not specify the nature of the threats, but said the hackers were also targeting his family. According to Tajani, the political reason behind the attack is Italy's position on Ukraine. He argued that defending the freedom of a sovereign state and standing clearly for a nation's democracy and independence is seen as dangerous by such criminal entities.

The Italian government has given Ukraine both humanitarian and military support in its war against Russia.

Government response

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed the incident on pro-Russian hackers and offered Tajani her full solidarity. In a statement, she said the sale of confidential information about institutional representatives is a cause of serious concern and must be tackled with the utmost determination.

Meloni also voiced concern over the circulation of false images, which she said were shared by members of Italy's opposition. She did not give details about their content.

Moscow has not publicly responded to the allegations. Tajani said the government is taking the threats seriously.