Antonio Tajani faces dark web threats over Italian support for Ukraine
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that hackers have been publishing his personal data on the dark web for several days, exposing him to threats and intimidation attempts. Tajani, who also serves as Italy’s deputy prime minister, stated on the social platform X that his political stance defending Ukraine is the primary reason he has been targeted. According to reporting by Reuters, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the sale of confidential information regarding state officials as a matter of serious concern.
Pro-Russian hackers target Italian officials
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) is behind the data leak, linking the breach to a list of 18 individuals designated as hostile to the Russian Federation, according to coverage by Reuters. The targeted list includes Rome Chief Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voy and postal police head Ivano Gabrielli, whose sensitive details have circulated online since October 26. Bloomberg noted that Italian cyber-security checks uncovered the leaked data alongside explicit threats, prompting an active investigation by the Rome prosecutor’s office.
Meloni condemns data peddling as digital threats escalate
Prime Minister Meloni condemned the data peddling as a severe risk to public servants, while Bloomberg reported that her administration is actively investigating whether foreign actors have influenced recent protests across European cities. In response to the escalating digital threats, Tajani pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a dedicated cybersecurity protection directorate on January 1. While Reuters confirmed that Moscow has not commented on the specific incident and routinely denies involvement in foreign cyberattacks, the Italian government continues to supply both humanitarian and military aid to Kyiv, as detailed by AFP.
Italian investigators blame pro-Russian hackers for data leak
Which hacker group is accused of leaking Antonio Tajani’s data?
According to ANSA, Italian investigators attribute the data leak to the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16).
How many individuals were included on the hostile citizens list?
The group published information targeting 18 individuals whom they classified as hostile to the Russian Federation, including prosecutors and police officials, as reported by Reuters.
What specific security measures has the Italian foreign ministry implemented?
Tajani noted that the ministry launched a specialized directorate on January 1 to enhance defenses against ongoing cyberattacks and protect state personnel.
Italian FM Antonio Tajani says his personal data had been disseminated on the dark web, with PM Giorgia Meloni blaming pro-Russian hackers for the leak. https://t.co/VRKwCFIGGV
Has the Russian government responded to the allegations?
Reuters reported that Moscow has not commented on the specific incident involving Tajani and consistently denies any state involvement in foreign hacking operations.
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