Trend Digital and cyber threats as the largest structural threat

Summary

The report names the rise of digital and cyber threats as the largest structural threat facing the Netherlands. This covers cyberattacks by states such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, ransomware from criminal groups, and attacks on critical infrastructure including hospitals, ports, airports and energy companies. Risks have grown with deeper reliance on foreign tech firms, and generative AI makes attacks faster, larger in scale and more convincing through deepfakes, tailored phishing and automated exploits. The report argues that AI lets attacks outpace human reaction, so defence against them must become autonomous as well. As one of the most important digital hubs, the country enjoys a strategic advantage but is also more exposed to espionage, hacking and manipulation.