Italian Foreign Minister Tajani Says Pro-Russian Hackers Leaked His Personal Data on Dark Web

In brief

• Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says cybercriminals have spent several days publishing his personal data on the dark web and seeking information about his family.
• He links the campaign to Italy's support for Ukraine, and Reuters reported his photo appeared on a list of 18 people described as hostile to Russia.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed solidarity, and Rome prosecutors are investigating.

Personal data posted online

Tajani said on X that cybercriminals had spent several days publishing his personal details on the dark web and looking for more information about him. He warned that the people behind the campaign were also targeting his relatives and were willing to pay for details about him and his family. He did not say which data had been exposed or name any suspects. (Сибіга запропонував Італії український досвід боротьби з кібератаками – Espreso) (Italien: Außenminister Antonio Tajani prangert Hacker-Angriffe an – DER SPIEGEL) (Antonio Tajani ofiarą cyberataku. "Narażają mnie i rodzinę na zagrożenie" – Polsat News)

Ukraine policy cited as motive

Tajani attributed the campaign to Italy's stance on Russia's war against Ukraine, arguing that defending the sovereignty of an attacked state and backing democracy and national independence made him a target for these groups. He said he would not be intimidated. (Сибига предложил главе МИД Италии помощь Украины в противодействии кибератакам – NV) (Сибіга запропонував главі МЗС Італії допомогу України у протидії кібератакам – Українська правда) (Antonio Tajani: Italiens Außenminister prangert Hacker-Angriffe gegen sich an – FAZ.NET)

Screenshots and monitoring

Reuters reported that screenshots it reviewed showed Tajani's photo on a list of 18 people described as hostile to Russia, a list that also included cybersecurity experts. The material was found in a section of the dark web reached through the Tor network during monitoring by cybersecurity authorities, according to a person close to the minister. Further investigation is under way, and Moscow has not commented.

Government and Ukrainian response

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with Tajani and described the sale of confidential information about officials as a serious concern, pointing to the activity of pro-Russian hackers. Italian media reported that the Rome prosecutor's office is investigating, and that information about the minister and several other officials had reportedly been offered for sale for at least two weeks. (Очільник МЗС Італії заявив, що зазнав хакерської атаки через підтримку України – Suspilne)

On Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed full solidarity with his Italian counterpart and offered Ukraine's experience in countering cyberattacks. He also backed Tajani's proposal to discuss cyber threats at a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris.

Wider context

The cyberattack followed a series of false bomb threats across Europe that in recent days forced several flights to divert and led to evacuations of Irish and British media offices. (Sensible Daten im Darknet: Italiens Außenminister prangert Hacker-Angriffe an – ZEIT ONLINE) Earlier, hackers had also targeted the information systems of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, reaching the email accounts of many lawmakers and of Prime Minister Meloni. A pro-Russian group, NoName057(16), which has operated since 2022, is known for similar campaigns.