The Polish Press Agency (PAP) has fallen victim to a cyberattack, prompting widespread reactions from opposition politicians. The incident involved a false message regarding a supposed military mobilization, which has sparked significant concern and calls for a thorough investigation.
On Friday, shortly after 2 PM, PAP’s website published two messages with the title: “Prime Minister Donald Tusk: Partial Mobilization in Poland to Begin on July 1, 2024.” PAP quickly clarified that it was not the source of this information and that the messages were not created or disseminated by its journalists. The false reports have since been retracted, and an investigation is underway.
“This is a very serious incident that requires a thorough explanation. Hostile hackers, such as those from Russia, cannot be allowed to declare mobilization for the government. This is unacceptable,” wrote Tobiasz Bocheński in his statement.
Jacek Siewiera, head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), emphasized that the misinformation about the mobilization was likely deliberate and pointed out that in Poland, mobilization can only be ordered by the President, as stipulated by Article 136 of the Constitution. “I am in contact with the government on this matter,” he added.
PiS MP Radosław Fogiel criticized Deputy Prime Minister Gawkowski’s comments that implicated Donald Tusk in the hacking incident. “And what, will he watch PAP servers with a grim face in a crisis jacket? We expect concrete actions and clear information from those in power regarding this attack and the state of critical infrastructure security,” Fogiel remarked.
The cyberattack on PAP highlights the growing threat of digital interference in national security matters, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect critical information infrastructure.