[REVISION HISTORY]

Digital crime and victimization in Italy

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2026-09-29 19:42 UTC → 2026-09-30 17:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Reports from 2026 indicate a significant rise in various forms of digital crime and victimization in Italy. Data from the Crif Observatory shows that Italy ranks third globally in the number of accounts stolen and distributed via infostealer malware, following only the United States and France. This theft involves the trade of billions of pieces of sensitive data on the dark web, facilitated by phishing, smishing, and vishing campaigns. There are also growing concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to bypass defenses. Separately, an investigation by Eurispes identified cyberstalking as the most prevalent digital crime in the country, with 28.2% of digital users reporting incidents. Other frequent offenses include privacy violations and attempted grooming through false identities. Research from the University of Turin further notes that victimization rates among students are high and linked to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms. Recent incidents highlight a trend in digital extortion and social media hacking. In one case, two individuals face charges for a blackmail scheme where suspects allegedly used a fake profile to obtain explicit photos from a victim before demanding money under threat of release. In another instance, journalist Umberto Chiariello reported being hacked by a Turkish student who stole his social media profiles and demanded payments ranging from 400 to 200 euros to restore access. Chiariello expressed frustration regarding the difficulty of resolving such identity theft and professional losses through platforms like Meta.

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