Cyber Awareness

Italian Foreign Minister’s Personal Data Leaked on Dark Web, Prime Minister Blames Pro‑Russian Hackers

By Al Jazeera Staff

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said his personal data had been released on the dark web, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro‑Russian hackers for the leak. Tajani posted on X on Saturday that, for several days, cybercriminals had been publishing his personal data and seeking further information, exposing him to new threats and intimidation. He added that the threats also targeted his family and that attackers were willing to pay for more details about him and his loved ones. Tajani stated that he would not be intimidated. Meloni expressed solidarity with Tajani, describing the publication of confidential information about government officials as a matter of grave concern that must be addressed with determination. Tajani said Italy’s stance on Ukraine—defending the freedom of a sovereign state and supporting a nation’s democracy and independence—was the political reason he had been targeted. He also suggested the cyberthreats could be a reaction to the Italian government’s efforts to strengthen the Foreign Ministry’s digital defences. Tajani did not specify the type of information shared but said the threat was ongoing and that the ministry was coordinating its response with allied countries.