Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that cyber-criminals published his personal information online as retaliation for his country’s backing of Ukraine.
Cyber Attack and Family Targeted
Tajani announced on X that hackers have been uploading his private details onto the dark web for multiple days while searching for additional information. He explained that this activity deliberately leaves him vulnerable to intimidation and new threats.
Although he did not detail the specific nature of these threats, the deputy prime minister noted that the perpetrators are also directing their actions toward his family members. The dark web operates as a concealed segment of the internet requiring specialized software to access, remaining unindexed by standard search engines.
Political Motives and Government Reaction
Tajani pointed to foreign policy as the catalyst for the breach, stating that supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy provokes hostility from such criminal organizations. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attributed the attack to pro-Russian hackers, granting Tajani her complete solidarity.
Meloni described the trade of confidential details concerning institutional figures as deeply alarming, noting it requires maximum determination to resolve. Meanwhile, Moscow has issued no public response regarding these accusations.
Alongside the data leak, Prime Minister Meloni raised alarms regarding the spread of fabricated images distributed by domestic opposition members, though she refrained from elaborating on their contents. Italy has consistently supplied both humanitarian aid and military equipment to Ukraine throughout the conflict, and Tajani confirmed that the administration is treating the current security threats with utmost seriousness.
