Lithuanian president calls digital fraud a national security threat

Digital fraud has evolved into an organised criminal activity that undermines public trust in the state and now poses a national security risk, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda warned on Monday, as reported by public broadcaster LRT.

“When people stop trusting calls from banks or government agencies, when they fear using digital services, when they doubt the state’s ability to protect them—this is no longer just a law enforcement issue, but a matter of national security,” Nausėda said in a statement from the presidential office.

The president emphasised that the problem has grown particularly acute following the recent leak of personal data from Lithuania’s Centre of Registers (RC), which exposed critical gaps in security measures and an underestimation of geopolitical risks. “In the current security environment, this is unacceptable,” he stated. “Protecting state infrastructure and information is not the responsibility of a single ministry—it requires immediate, coordinated action across all government levels.”

Nausėda noted that Lithuania already has a unified system linking institutions, law enforcement, financial sectors, telecom operators, and cybersecurity experts. However, he stressed the need for greater public awareness, particularly in educating seniors about digital literacy and emerging threats.

On Tuesday, a presidential-initiated forum will convene to strengthen digital security, combat online fraud, and improve cooperation between public and private sectors. Addressing participants, Nausėda highlighted the cross-border nature of digital fraud, calling for deeper international collaboration.

With Lithuania’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council, the president said the country has an opportunity to lead efforts in building a more effective European response to digital fraud.