Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday, November 7, 2026, that his personal data had been published on the dark web by pro-Russian hackers. Tajani, who also serves as deputy prime minister, linked the move to the Italian government support for Ukraine. He said cybercriminals had been sharing his personal information for days and were still seeking more details about him and his family. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers for the leak and expressed her full solidarity with Tajani. Rome prosecutors have opened a file on the case after a police complaint, while Moscow has not commented on the incident.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Person targeted | Antonio Tajani, Italy Foreign Minister and deputy prime minister |
| What happened | Personal data published on the dark web, with payment offered for more information |
| Date Tajani spoke out | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Who Tajani and Meloni blame | Pro-Russian hackers |
| Where the material was found | A dark-web site reachable through the Tor network |
| Number of people listed | 18 people described as citizens hostile to the Russian Federation |
| Group named in reports | NoName057(16), described as a pro-Russian group |
| Official response | Rome prosecutors opened a file after a police complaint |
| Response from Moscow | No comment on this incident |
What Tajani Said About the Leak
Tajani made the disclosure himself in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. He wrote that cybercriminals had been publishing his personal data on the dark web for days and were seeking further information, effectively exposing him to new threats and intimidation. The hackers, he said, were still looking for more information about him and his family and were willing to pay for it.
Tajani did not specify what kind of information had been leaked. Personal data can range from a home address or a phone number to passwords, travel details, or financial records, and without a clear list from Tajani or the authorities the public cannot judge how serious the exposure is. He also said the threat was ongoing and that the ministry was coordinating its response with allied countries. Tajani linked the leak to the Italian government support for Ukraine, and in his account the hackers picked him because of his public role and the position Italy has taken on the war.
What Prime Minister Meloni Said
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke out in support of Tajani soon after his post. She blamed pro-Russian hackers for the leak and expressed her full solidarity with the foreign minister. Her statement was short and direct, and by naming pro-Russian hackers as the people responsible she put the full weight of the prime minister office behind Tajani account of events.
Meloni also said the sale of confidential information relating to public officials was a matter of serious concern. That wording shifts the focus from one minister to a wider problem, since the risk would then touch judges, police chiefs, mayors, and anyone else named on such a list. Tajani is her deputy prime minister and a senior figure in the governing coalition, so her public show of solidarity also tells voters and foreign partners that the government is united. For the latest on American military action in the region, see our report on Trump confirming United States strikes on Qeshm Island air defence. For a separate diplomatic story from the same news cycle, see our coverage of Egypt reopening its Tripoli embassy after 12 years.
The List of 18 Names on the Dark Web
Screenshots seen by Reuters showed Tajani picture among a list of 18 people described as citizens hostile to the Russian Federation. The material was found in a section of the dark web accessible through the Tor network, during monitoring by cybersecurity authorities. The listing did not surface by chance. It was picked up by the same kind of monitoring that security agencies use to track threats against public figures.
Il Fatto Quotidiano, an Italian newspaper, first reported the case. The paper attributes the listing to NoName057(16), a pro-Russian group it describes as close to Russian military intelligence. Since October 26, the group has offered payment on a dark-web site for passwords, addresses, and personal information about the 18 people it considers enemies of Russia. Other named targets include Rome chief prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, Postal Police head Ivano Gabrielli, and Aviano mayor Paolo Tassan-Zanin. Authorities have known about the bounty for at least two weeks, and the site is still reachable.
Who Is Blamed and What Has Not Been Proven
The claim that pro-Russian hackers are behind the leak comes from Tajani and Meloni, and from the reporting of Il Fatto Quotidiano. The newspaper points to NoName057(16), a group known for pro-Russian hacking activity. That attribution is plausible to many observers, given the group record and the timing of the listing, but it is still an attribution, not a court finding. No public evidence has been released that links a specific person to the leak, and no one has been charged.
Moscow has not commented on this incident. Russia has consistently denied any involvement in cyberattacks or hacking operations abroad, and that denial is part of a long standing Russian position. The distinction between a claim and a proven fact matters here. Cyberattacks are often hard to trace with certainty, since groups can use false flags, stolen tools, and servers in many countries. Until the investigation produces results, the honest way to report the story is to attribute the blame to the people making the claim and to note the Russian denial.
What the Authorities Are Doing Now
Rome prosecutors opened a file after a police complaint, which is the formal first step in an Italian criminal investigation. A file does not mean charges will follow, but it does mean prosecutors will look at the evidence, speak to the people involved, and decide whether a crime has been committed and who may be responsible. Cybersecurity authorities are also involved, since it was their monitoring that found the material on the dark web.
Their role is likely to focus on the technical side: where the data came from, how it was published, who may have accessed it, and whether the site can be taken down or blocked. That work is often slow, because dark-web sites are designed to hide the identity and location of the people running them. Tajani said the foreign ministry was coordinating its response with allied countries, and Italy is a member of NATO and the European Union. For more on public unrest in Europe on the same day, see our report on France Saturday protests with turnout falling to 146,000.
Why This Case Matters Beyond Italy
This case matters because it shows how cyberattacks can be used as a tool of pressure against elected officials. The leak does not need to reveal state secrets to have an effect. Personal data alone can be enough to frighten a person, to put their family at risk, and to send a message to other officials that speaking out carries a personal cost. That is the logic of intimidation, and it is why Meloni described the sale of confidential information about public officials as a matter of serious concern.
The case also fits a wider pattern of hostile online activity linked to the war in Ukraine. Since the invasion began, pro-Russian hacking groups have targeted government websites, media outlets, and public figures in countries that support Kyiv. Some attacks have taken sites offline for hours. Others, like this one, are personal, aimed at the people behind the policy rather than the policy itself. The data on sale is made up of real details about real people, offered for money to anyone willing to pay, and that trade is hard to stop when the sellers hide behind anonymity tools.
What exactly did Tajani say was leaked?
Tajani said his personal data had been published on the dark web and that cybercriminals were seeking further information about him and his family. He did not specify what kind of information had been leaked, so the exact contents remain unclear in public reporting.
Who does Italy blame for the leak?
Tajani and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blame pro-Russian hackers. Il Fatto Quotidiano attributes the listing to NoName057(16), a pro-Russian group it describes as close to Russian military intelligence. Moscow has not commented on this incident and has consistently denied involvement in cyberattacks abroad.
How many people are named on the list?
The list contains 18 people described as citizens hostile to the Russian Federation. Alongside Tajani, other named targets include Rome chief prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, Postal Police head Ivano Gabrielli, and Aviano mayor Paolo Tassan-Zanin.
What are the authorities doing about it?
Rome prosecutors opened a file after a police complaint, and cybersecurity authorities are monitoring the dark-web site, which remains reachable. Tajani said the foreign ministry was coordinating its response with allied countries, and the threat is described as ongoing.
Sources
- Reuters: Italy foreign minister says he has been targeted by pro-Russian hackers
- The Geneva Times: Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says cyber criminals shared his personal data on dark web
- Barbados Gazette: Pro-Russian hackers leak Italian foreign minister data on dark web
Final Thoughts
The leak of Antonio Tajani personal data is a reminder that political disputes now play out online as well as in parliaments and on battlefields. A foreign minister who supports Ukraine has found his private information offered for sale on the dark web, alongside the names of a prosecutor, a police chief, and a mayor. The Italian government has responded with solidarity, a criminal file, and coordination with allies. Whether that response will stop the people behind the listing is not yet known. What is known is that the site is still reachable, the threat is still described as ongoing, and the people named on the list are still living with the consequences.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration.
