Tajani: “My personal data has been leaked on the dark web, but I won’t be intimidated.” The controversy over Bonaccini and the AI-generated photo (which has been removed)

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has revealed that hackers have been circulating his personal data on the dark web for days and has assured that he will not be “intimidated in any way”, in light of the apparent link between the attacks and the Italian government’s support for Ukraine. “Cybercriminals have been circulating my personal data on the dark web for days and are seeking further information, effectively exposing me to new threats and intimidation,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated on X, “they are also targeting my family and are prepared to pay for further details about me and my loved ones. My response is very simple: I will not be intimidated in any way. I will continue to work to defend my ministry and Italy, and I will further strengthen ties and cooperation with our allies so that we can protect ourselves together.” In a video posted later on Instagram, Tajani spoke of “a group of pro-Russian hackers” who “have decided to put a bounty on my head and that of my family”.

Tajani’s data is reportedly not the only information to have been published on the dark web. According to a report in Il Fatto, for at least two weeks, pro-Russian hackers known as "Noname057(16)" have been publishing data and demanding information – for a fee – regarding the Foreign Minister, the Rome Public Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi and the Head of the Postal Police Ivano Gabrielli. The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case, the newspaper reports. 

“Our stance on Ukraine is the political reason why I have come under fire: defending the freedom of a sovereign state, taking a clear stand in favour of a nation’s democracy and independence, is dangerous to these criminal entities,” Tajani continued. “They are also acting in response to the measures we have been implementing for months to defend the Foreign Ministry’s cyber security.” At the Farnesina, he continued, “we are working hard to counter these threats: on 1 January, I set up a ‘cyber directorate’ to protect us from cyber-attacks by individuals often linked in some way to state entities hostile to us,” the Foreign Minister recalled, “we are operational and we are working closely with our allies. “Our decision, my mission, have been fulfilled: we will continue to defend our security and protect ourselves from cybercriminals,” he concluded, “in the conviction that this is the right way to safeguard the Italian people and our country.” 

The news that data has been leaked onto the dark web comes at a time of considerable unease regarding cyber security. Even before the spate of (false) bomb threats that threw European airspace into chaos, a series of cyber-attacks had tampered with fridges and freezers in dozens of European supermarkets, including in Italy, forcing them to throw away large quantities of fresh and frozen food. Furthermore, the company responsible for building and managing the new Brenner Tunnel (BBT SE) was the target of a targeted cyber-attack on 17 October, during which unauthorised individuals gained access to data accessible via the internet. As soon as the incident was detected, the company activated its cybersecurity protocols, immediately isolating the affected systems and enlisting the support of external cybersecurity specialists to carry out the necessary forensic analysis. The incident is not believed to have had any impact on the company’s operational activities, and investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the details of the attack.

Solidarity has been expressed by the political world, starting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “I express my full solidarity with the Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, regarding the revelations about the activities of pro-Russian hackers and the dissemination on the dark web of personal data concerning him,” she wrote in a statement. “The sale of confidential information about institutional figures is a cause for great concern and must be tackled with the utmost determination. Equally worrying is the circulation of fake images, some of which have even been shared by opposition figures,” she concluded. “Freedom of expression must never become a breeding ground for disinformation.” The reference is to an AI-generated photo published by the leader of the Democratic Party, Stefano Bonaccini, in which Tajani is depicted wearing a MAGA cap. Following the controversy, Bonaccini removed the post: “In view of Forza Italia’s request and to avoid any misunderstanding, I have removed the post featuring an ironic ‘meme’ of Antonio Tajani wearing the MAGA cap, which he had, in fact, held in his hand on public occasions, as has been widely documented,” the PD MEP wrote in a statement.

Tajani himself also responded to the photo in a video posted on social media. “I appeal to the entire Italian political establishment: take heed, let us defend democracy and freedom. And let us prevent hybrid warfare from bringing us to our knees. I regret that the leader of the PD, at this very juncture, has used AI to attack me and denigrate my political positions. By doing so, they are only helping the warlords of hybrid warfare,” said the leader of FI. “We are facing a hybrid war, which is why I have asked the G7 summit on Monday, to be held in Paris, to place this issue at the centre of our debate.”

Solidarity has also been expressed by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. “The dissemination of false images is a serious matter, even when carried out by those in political and institutional positions of responsibility. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, but it cannot be invoked to justify the deliberate dissemination of manipulated content. Fuelling falsehoods means contributing to the erosion of public trust in institutions. National security is also defended by protecting information, combating disinformation and safeguarding the credibility of our institutions.” The minister also expressed his “full solidarity and support” for Tajani, the Rome Public Prosecutor Lo Voi, the head of the Postal Police Gabrielli, the Mayor of Aviano Tassan-Zanin and all those involved in the “serious incident” that led to the dissemination and sale of personal data by hackers.