Poland is to have a “cyber army” numbering at least 1,000 soldiers within several years capable of waging warfare in cyberspace, the country’s defence minister said on Monday.

Antoni Macierewicz told the “Cybersec” European Cybersecurity Forum in Kraków, southern Poland, that the country has earmarked PLN 2 billion (EUR 465m, USD 545m) for the new initiative.

In a speech, Macierewicz said that in the modern world, cyberspace is theatre of combat "no less than [military operations] on land, sea, air and in space."

Macierewicz said the ministry of defence and other Polish government ministries were targeted by "troll factories" almost every day.

He added: "All means thanks to which public opinion can be manipulated are employed. Credible-looking interviews, recordings and even books are appearing that are then widely promoted in the country and around the world."

Macierewicz told the conference: “We are aware of how much responsibility falls on Poland because of the key role it plays on NATO's eastern flank."

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło earlier on Monday announced a new department of cybersecurity would be set up in her office.

(pk)

Source: PAP