AfD reports breach of several long-inactive email accounts by unknown hackers
The Alternative for Germany says a hacker intrusion into a hosting provider copied data from a handful of rarely used party mailboxes, including one belonging to former leader Alexander Gauland.
In September 2026 a hacker group accessed a hosting provider used by the Alternative for Germany and allegedly duplicated content from several dormant email boxes. The AfD emphasized that its active federal-level accounts remained secure. The perpetrators allege the stolen material originates from ten mailboxes, including one registered to former party chief Alexander Gauland and another previously listed as a contact for the federal office.
The party reported that the intrusion was identified and contained promptly, with all affected users informed. It is currently examining the online publication of the purported data and will issue an assessment after the review is complete. No confirmation has been given regarding the authenticity of the released emails.
Why it matters
A breach of political party communications raises concerns about data security and potential manipulation of internal information.
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