Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused pro-Russian hackers of leaking Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's personal information on the dark web, where cybercriminals are reportedly offering money for further details about him and his family. Tajani, who also serves as Italy's deputy prime minister, said on Saturday that his personal information had been circulating online for several days, exposing him and his family to threats and intimidation.
The minister did not disclose what information had been leaked but said the hackers were actively searching for more details about his loved ones. According to Tajani, the incident is linked to Italy's continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
"I will not allow myself to be intimidated in any way," he said, adding that he would continue strengthening security measures to protect the foreign ministry. Meanwhile, Meloni expressed solidarity with Tajani, describing attempts to sell confidential information about government officials as a serious concern.
The Italian foreign ministry said cybersecurity officials had discovered the information on a section of the dark web accessible through the Tor network. Tajani has also requested that the issue of growing security threats be discussed during the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris on November 9 and 10.
The incident comes amid a series of security scares across Europe, including bomb threats targeting passenger flights, threats against broadcasters and suspected sabotage. However, authorities have not established whether those incidents are connected.
Russia has not commented on the latest allegations but has repeatedly denied involvement in cyberattacks abroad.