The hackers obtained data about the locations of officials involved in counterterrorism, monitoring foreign communities or monitoring Chinese dissidents.Image: imago-images.de
Feb 18, 2026, 3:52 p.mFeb 18, 2026, 3:52 p.m
The IT network of the Italian Ministry of the Interior has been attacked by Chinese hackers. The hackers are said to have accessed the database of around 5,000 investigators from the Italian state security department in Digo, reported the Roman daily newspaper “La Repubblica”.
The names, functions and locations of officials who are involved in particularly sensitive investigations are affected – from counter-terrorism to monitoring foreign communities and monitoring Chinese dissidents in Italy.
Unknown attackers gained access to internal systems and downloaded confidential data from forces deployed in various police stations. Security circles suspect actors associated with Chinese intelligence services are behind the attacks.
The aim of the attack is to obtain information
According to the report, the aim of the attack was not sabotage, but rather to obtain confidential information. Officials who deal with the Chinese diaspora, criminal networks and political dissidents from the People’s Republic were apparently of particular interest.
The revelations come at a time of intense diplomatic contacts between Rome and Beijing in the area of judicial and security cooperation. In 2024, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi met his Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong in Beijing. A three-year cooperation plan to combat drug trafficking, cybercrime, human trafficking and organized crime was agreed. (sda/apa)