G-20 Conference: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday raised concern on the growing technology in today’s era saying that this may create new opportunities for terrorist organizations, during the two-day G-20 Conference in Gurugram.
Union Home Minister also emphasised on the urgent need for cooperation, both at the national and international levels, to build cyber resilience in an increasingly connected world.
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Shah was addressing the inaugural session G-20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs, AI and the Metaverse.
“Metaverse, once a science fiction idea, has now stepped into the real world and it may create new opportunities for terrorist organizations, primarily for propaganda, recruitment and training,” Shah said.
Gurugram, Haryana | According to Interpol's 2022 Global Trends Summary report, some of the cybercrime trends such as ransomware, phishing, offline telecom, offline child sexual abuse and hacking are posing a serious threat globally. There is a possibility that this cybercrime… pic.twitter.com/QRZ32frVyN
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2023
Union Home Minister noted that this will make it easier for terrorist organizations to select and target vulnerable people and prepare material according to their vulnerabilities.
“There is also a growing tendency to strategically target critical information and financial systems. Such activities are a matter of national concern, as their activities have a direct impact on national security, law and order and the economy,” Shah asserted.
“If such crimes and criminals have to be stopped, then we have to think and act by rising above the conventional geographic boundaries. Targets in digital warfare are not our physical resources, but our ability to act online and disruption of online network even for a few minutes, can be fatal,” Shah emphasised.
“Technology has transcended all conventional geographical, political and economic boundaries and today, we live in a big global digital village. Technology is a positive development in bringing human beings, communities and countries closer, there are also some anti-social elements and global forces, that are using technology to cause economic and social harm to citizens and governments,” he said.
Shah said that incidents ranging from ransomware attacks, sale of critical personal data, online harassment and child abuse to fake news and mis-information campaigns with ‘toolkits’, are being carried out by cybercriminals.
Shah underlined that this conference was the need of the hour as it can be lead to a pivotal global initiative towards coordinated action to make the digital world safer for all.
While quoting the Interpol’s ‘Global Trend Summary Report’ for the year 2022, Shah said that some of the cybercrime trends such as ransomware, phishing, online scams, online child sexual abuse and hacking are posing serious threats across the globe and there is a possibility that these cyber crimes will increase manifold in the future.
Union Home Minister said that the G-20 has so far focused on digital transformation and data flow from an economic perspective, but now it is very important to understand the aspects of crime and security and find a solution. “It is our endeavor to stay ahead in the era of NFTs, AI, Metaverse and other emerging technologies by responding in a timely manner to new and emerging threats in a coordinated and cooperative approach,” Shah stated.
Over 900 participants from G20 countries, 9 special invitee countries, international bodies and technology leaders and domain experts from India and across the world are attending the two-day conference.
