Μake us preferred on Google Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that his personal data has been circulating on the dark web, leaving him and his family exposed to threats and intimidation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers for the leak.
In a post on X, Tajani, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said cybercriminals had been publishing his personal information for several days and trying to gather more. He added that they were also targeting his family and were willing to pay for further details about him and his loved ones.
Tajani did not say what kind of information had been exposed, but indicated that the threat was ongoing. He vowed not to be intimidated and said he would keep working to protect his ministry and Italy while strengthening cooperation with partners to defend against such attacks.
“A Matter of Grave Concern”
In a separate statement, Meloni expressed solidarity with Tajani following what she described as revelations about the activities of pro-Russian hackers. She called attempts to sell confidential information about government officials a matter of grave concern that must be dealt with firmly.
While Tajani did not directly name those responsible, he linked the attack to Italy’s stance on the war in Ukraine. He said supporting the freedom and independence of a sovereign democratic state had made him a target in the eyes of these criminal groups, and reaffirmed the government’s backing for Kyiv.
He also suggested the attacks could be a response to Rome’s efforts to strengthen the Foreign Ministry’s digital defenses, and said the ministry was taking the threats seriously and coordinating its response with allied countries.
A Wave of Disruption Across Europe
The leak comes amid a string of incidents across Europe in recent weeks, including hoax bomb threats that have forced flight diversions, security alerts at broadcasters, attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions.
