Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani has said that cybercriminals have published his personal information on the dark web and are seeking further details about him and his family, prompting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to condemn the alleged activity and express solidarity with the Minister.
Tajani, who also serves as Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister, disclosed the incident in a social media post today, saying that the publication of his data had exposed him to further threats and intimidation.
“For days now, cybercriminals have been publishing my personal data on the dark web and seeking further information, effectively exposing me to new threats and intimidation.”
Antonio Tajani
He added that the individuals involved had also targeted his family and were offering to pay for additional information about him and his relatives. “They are also targeting my family; they are willing to pay for more details about me and my loved ones,” Tajani said.
Despite the threats, the Foreign Minister insisted that he would not be deterred. “My response is very simple: I will not be intimidated in any way,” he added.
Tajani Links Threats To Italy’s Ukraine Position
Tajani suggested that Italy’s support for Ukraine may have made him a target, pointing to the government’s position on Russia’s war and its backing for Ukrainian sovereignty and independence.
He said that Italy’s stance on the conflict was the political reason he believed he had been targeted. “Defending the freedom of a sovereign state, taking a clear stand in support of a nation’s democracy and independence, is dangerous in the eyes of these criminal entities,” he said.
The Minister also suggested that the cyberthreats could be connected to the Italian government’s efforts to strengthen the Foreign Ministry’s digital security systems.
He did not provide further details about the suspected link or identify the specific measures being introduced to improve the ministry’s cyber defences.
Tajani indicated that the situation remained ongoing and said that the Foreign Ministry was treating the threats seriously.
He added that the ministry was coordinating its response with allied countries, although he did not specify which governments were involved or outline the measures being taken.
Meloni Condemns Alleged Cyberattacks
Meloni expressed support for Tajani following the disclosure, attributing the activities to pro-Russian hackers and describing the publication of the minister’s personal information as a serious concern.
She said that she stood in solidarity with the Foreign Minister “following the revelations about the activities of pro-Russian hackers, and the publication on the dark web of personal data.”
The Italian Prime Minister also condemned attempts to obtain and sell confidential information about government officials, saying such activities required a firm response.
She described the attempts to trade in private information belonging to public officials as “a matter of grave concern that must be addressed with the utmost determination.”
The allegations come amid growing concerns about cyber threats and security incidents affecting public institutions and individuals across Europe.
However, the specific information allegedly published about Tajani, the identity of those responsible and the extent of the breach were not disclosed
The incident highlights the security risks facing government officials as cybercriminals seek access to personal information that could be used for intimidation, harassment or other forms of interference.
It also comes at a time when European countries are responding to a series of reported security incidents, including hoax bomb threats that have disrupted air travel, prompted security alerts at media organisations and affected supermarket refrigeration systems.
Although the incidents have raised wider concerns about security across the continent, no direct connection between those events and the threats against Tajani was established in the statements.
For now, the Italian government has expressed support for the Foreign Minister, while the ministry works with allied countries to address the reported cyber threats.
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