Politics · Italy · 6 hrs ago
Meloni says higher defence spending protects daily life from cyberattacks
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended higher defence spending during a visit to Fieracavalli in Verona.
She said cyberattacks and other recent incidents showed that civilian infrastructure is at risk, including hospitals, transport and food supplies.
Investigators have not established whether the incidents are connected, Meloni said.
One example she cited was hackers trying to change the temperature of refrigerators storing blood for transfusions.
A costly system kept the blood safe, she said, arguing that security spending can protect public health as well as defend the country.
Meloni said defence and health spending are both needed, rejecting the view that more money for security necessarily takes resources from hospitals.
Her government will continue work on the issue, though she did not give details of next steps.
Giorgia Meloni said higher defence and security spending helps protect citizens’ daily lives from cyberattacks.
She cited an attempt by hackers to alter refrigerators holding blood for transfusions and said a costly system kept the blood safe.
Meloni said investigators could not yet establish whether several recent incidents across Europe were connected.
She argued that defence and health spending are both needed to protect citizens.
Meloni made the remarks during a visit to Fieracavalli in Verona.
- Who
- Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister.
- What
- She argued that defence and security spending protects citizens’ daily lives, including from cyberattacks.
- When
- 6 November 2026.
- Where
- At Veronafiere in Verona, during a visit to Fieracavalli.
- Why
- She said cyberattacks can threaten civilian infrastructure, health and food supplies.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Incidents across Europe included cyberattacks, false bomb alerts on planes and an attack involving food goods.
Meloni discussed the incidents and defence spending during a visit to Fieracavalli in Verona.
- Speaker
- Giorgia Meloni
- Location
- Veronafiere, Verona
- Date
- 6 November 2026
- Blood supplies
- Hackers tried to alter the temperature of refrigerators holding blood for transfusions.
- Investigation
- Meloni said investigators could not yet say whether the incidents were connected.
3 sources
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Attacchi hacker, Meloni: «Spese per la difesa sono per la sicurezza della quotidianità dei cittadini»
Italy's PM Meloni warns civilian infrastructure under attack
What people are saying
We are talking about making citizens’ daily lives safe.
The new hacker attacks clearly must be a cause for concern.
When hackers tried to change the temperature of the refrigerators holding the blood needed for transfusions, that blood was made safe by a system that costs money.
When they tell us that resources for defence and security are money taken away from health care or hospitals, they are saying something stupid.