Italian Foreign Minister's data leaked on dark web, pro-Russian hackers blamed

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made a serious revelation on Saturday, stating that his personal data has been leaked on the dark web. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has clarified that pro-Russian hackers are behind this cyberattack. This incident has caused a wave of concern in Italian political circles. According to reports from CBS News and The Hindu, these attacks are believed to be in retaliation for the support being provided by the Italian government to Ukraine. The Foreign Minister stated on the social media platform 'X' that cybercriminals have been spreading his personal information on the dark web for the past few days and are constantly trying to obtain more information. Due to this incident, he and his family are facing constant threats and intimidation.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed outrage over the incident, stating that the sale of confidential information of government representatives is a very serious matter and must be dealt with firmly. She expressed full solidarity with the Foreign Minister. According to The Hindu's report, some screenshots found on the dark web included Antonio Tajani's photo in a list of 'citizens opposed to the Russian Federation,' which also contained the names of cybersecurity experts. This information was found in a section of the dark web via the Tor network, which emerged during monitoring by cybersecurity authorities. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Antonio Tajani, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, has made it clear that he will not be intimidated by such threats. He stated, "Protecting the freedom and democracy of a sovereign nation is dangerous for these criminal elements." He further added that these attacks could also be a reaction to the Foreign Ministry's efforts to strengthen cybersecurity. Tajani emphasized that he would continue to work for his ministry and the defense of Italy and would increase cooperation with allied countries to ensure collective security. According to a Business Standard report, Tajani has also linked this incident to other recent security events in Europe, including flight diversions, threats received by broadcasters, and attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems.

On the other hand, Russia has consistently denied any involvement in this cyberattack. Moscow has not made any official comment on the incident, but Russia has previously denied its role in cyberattacks occurring abroad. The Italian Foreign Minister has adopted a firm stance on the entire matter and stated that he will remain steadfast in his country's policies and support for Ukraine.

Antonio Tajani is a veteran Italian politician and is currently serving as Italy's Foreign Minister as well as Deputy Prime Minister. He holds a key position in the current Italian government and is known as a strong supporter of Ukraine among Western countries. Previously, he has played an important role in protecting Italy's interests on international platforms. Due to this cyberattack, Italy's security agencies have now become more vigilant and are focusing on increasing the digital security of government officials.