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Q: The internet from its early beginning up until today has issues. Over recent years we also have strengthened these
had a tremendous impact on our lives, here in Europe and efforts; to work on the security of networks, it is one of our
elsewhere. Where are we heading? major tasks.
We are heading towards getting more people connected.
We have talked a lot about e-commerce, e-government… In We realize that today when we get new technologies, there
order to achieve this, you need to get everybody connected will be new security challenges. The two go hand in hand,
online either by smart phones or computers. The reality is and it means that one has to develop new security measures.
that only half the world’s population has been connected, It’s an endless task.
in the most optimistic study. We need
to connect the other half! ITU takes Today, new technologies are deployed to
this as our major strategic job, and we “We cannot stop; we the markets very rapidly. All those who
are very pleased to do so. That is the are connected are concerned with their
reason why I put the infrastructure as need new technologies. security online or their connection. So
my priority. it’s not just the telecom engineers or
And to get new telecom decision-makers’ job to deal
We cannot stay with 2G or 3G. We with security issues. We need the entire
are now moving from 4G to 5G. 5G technologies we need society to become aware of and deal
facilitates far-reaching innovations in with cybersecurity.
mobile technology and provides new innovation. ” If we want to enjoy technologies,
opportunities for social development we need to respect some basic rules
and in achieving the global sustainable governing security. If someone does not
development goals. We are talking about the Internet follow the rules, then it opens the doors to the threats that are
of Things, which would facilitate machine-to-machine present in cyberspace.
communications and make cities smart and communities
more sustainable and more efficient. We are also talking about In 2003, we organized the first phase of the World Summit for
Artificial Intelligence. We are working with our members to the Information Society (WSIS) here in Geneva, recognizing
develop new technologies. All will rely on 5G! We cannot that information and communication technologies will
stop; we need new technologies. And to get new technologies proliferate and we have to make sure that people will have
we need innovation. the confidence to use and evolve the new cyber technologies.
ITU has been entrusted by WSIS as “the facilitator for
Innovations do not necessarily come from big companies. cybersecurity”. We need everybody to come together to
Many small-and medium-sized enterprises have many look at this new society. Security in society is everybody’s
brilliant ideas. So, we have to work with them. We at ITU responsibility, not just that of the governments and security
encourage innovation from everyone, no matter the size of experts. Everybody has to work together.
the company.
International security rules have not been established yet,
Q: Will there still be a place for the human beings in this although this has been put on the agenda for discussion
new society? everywhere over the last two decades. But up to today little
Definitely, because all these things are made by human beings has changed. Today we have 4G, tomorrow it’s 5G. Now we
for a better world. We have talked a lot that in particular new have artificial intelligence, big data, and now we talk about
technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, will create jobs for quantum technology, that is a completely different system.
sure. New opportunities will arise, and then we have to adapt Now everyone is working on this issue.
to the new technologies and infrastructure. Here, digital ITU is trusted by the public as well as by the UN family to
literacy is an issue. be the facilitator for cybersecurity. After WSIS, we set up an
If we cannot connect everybody by 2030, which means 7.5 expert group to come up with a Global Cybersecurity Agenda
billion people, we should at least have sufficient training for (GCA). We will continue to honour our commitment.
the young generation by then. If we can train them, we can
provide them with digital skills. It is not an easy job, as we are Q: What role does international cooperation play in
talking about one billion young people. strengthening cybersecurity?
There are no boundaries for cyber criminals. I was at Interpol
Q: Cybercrimes, identity theft and other criminal activities in 2016 and learned that cyber criminals on child abuse
are on the rise with seeming impunity. How is ITU helping had been arrested thanks to collaboration between several
the international community combat these activities which countries, including the United States and Russia. This success
have a huge impact on the global economy and citizens story was marvellous to hear. If Russia and the United States
worldwide? agreed to collaborate in this field, can’t we do it on a global
ITU has worked on security issues since the very beginning. level? I’m very confident that we will find a way!
If we cannot provide security to customers, who will use our
systems? So, from the very first day we worked on security Marit F & Sanjay Acharya

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