Hackers target Italian minister, leak data on dark web

Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, has disclosed that hackers leaked his personal data on the dark web and are offering to pay for more information about him and his family.

Tajani revealed this on Saturday, November 7, 2026 in a post on X. According to the minister,  cybercriminals have for days been publishing his personal data on the dark web, exposing him to new threats and intimidation.

He wrote ” They are also targeting my family; they are willing to pay for more details about me and my loved ones. My response is very simple: I will not be intimidated in any way.”

Aljazeera reports that Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers for the leak and expressed solidarity with Tajani.

She stressed the attempts to sell confidential information about government officials as a matter of grave concern that must be addressed with the utmost determination.

Tajani suggested that Italy’s position on Ukraine is the political reason he was targeted.

He said defending the freedom of a sovereign state and taking a stand in support of a nation’s democracy and independence is  considered dangerous in the eyes of these criminal entities.

He also suggested the attack may be a reaction to the Italian government’s efforts to strengthen the Foreign Ministry’s digital defences.

Tajani did not specify what kind of information had been shared, but said the cyberthreat was ongoing.

He said the ministry was taking the threats seriously and was coordinating its response with allied countries.

The incident comes amid bomb threats across Europe that have forced flight diversions, security alerts at broadcasters, and attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems.