US designates Italian tech collective as global terrorist

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2026 — The United States designated Autistici/Inventati, an Italy-based technology collective, as a specially designated global terrorist over its alleged support for violent far-left groups operating across several regions.

The action blocks all property and interests in property belonging to the A/I Collective that are subject to US jurisdiction. US persons are generally prohibited from transactions with the group, including contributions or provisions of funds, goods or services by, to or for its benefit.

Foreign financial institutions may also face secondary-sanctions risk for certain transactions involving the collective. The restrictions took effect with the designation announced by the State Department in partnership with the Treasury Department.

US officials described A/I as a digital-infrastructure provider offering encrypted communications, email, web hosting, video conferencing, streaming and anonymity tools. The State Department alleged that the collective vets potential users for ideological alignment and supplies services to violent groups in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.

The collective claims to host about 16,000 mailboxes, 1,500 websites, 5,500 mailing lists and 10,000 blogs on its platform. US officials said militants have used that infrastructure to publish claims of responsibility, propaganda, target information and instructions for attacks while seeking to conceal their activity.

The State Department linked A/I services to groups accused of rail sabotage across France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the March 2026 sabotage of the Transalpine Pipeline. It also cited alleged use by U.S.-based groups to distribute personal information, threaten officials and circulate instructions for making explosive and incendiary devices.

The designation was imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets people and entities accused of materially assisting, sponsoring or providing financial, material or technological support for terrorism. For sanctions-screening teams, the action introduces a newly blocked entity and associated transaction restrictions involving its property, services and financial relationships.