Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says cybercriminals have published his personal data on the dark web and are seeking further information about him and his family. He linked the activity to Italy’s support for Ukraine, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry said its cybersecurity teams had detected the circulation of Tajani’s personal data in the days before his statement. The ministry has not publicly specified what information was exposed. The ministry’s statement said the matter was being treated seriously.
“For days now, cyber-criminals have been publishing my personal data on the dark web and seeking further information, effectively exposing me to new threats and intimidation,” Tajani wrote on X. He did not describe the threats, but said his family had also been targeted.
Tajani, who is also Italy’s deputy prime minister, said the country’s position on Ukraine was the political reason he had been targeted. Italy has provided humanitarian and military support to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Meloni offered Tajani her “full solidarity” and attributed the incident to pro-Russian hackers. She said the sale of confidential information about government representatives was a serious concern and should be addressed firmly.
The statements have not established who obtained or published the data. The nature of the exposed information and the threats against Tajani and his family have not been made public.
Reid Bentley