The global community must deepen
collaboration around shared opportunities in Cyberspace to empower and protect
people worldwide. Policymakers and experts at the Global Cybersecurity Forum
(GCF) Annual Meeting, held in Riyadh, emphasized the need for educational
systems to focus more on cybersecurity and for the cyber workforce to become
more inclusive, addressing a global talent gap of 2.8 million cyber
professionals.
“Cyberspace is closely linked to the growth of economies, the prosperity
of societies, the security of individuals and the stability of nations,” His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin
Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, said in a
statement welcoming participants to the 4th edition of the GCF Annual Meeting.
The meeting, which took place from
October 2-3, prioritized ensuring Cyberspace is safe for all, particularly
vulnerable groups, such as children, and building resilience against rising
threats.
“We
have to work among likeminded nations – countries who agree with things like
protecting children, protecting our economic prosperity and growth, protecting
our national security,” said former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper, who spoke
during the opening plenary on the first day of the event.
GCF
focuses on the geostrategic, economic, social and behavioral dimensions of cybersecurity,
and works to catalyze collective action to ensure that Cyberspace continues to
be an enabler of prosperity and wellbeing for communities and people globally.
“The
workforce is not nearly inclusive enough and society and our education systems
are not putting enough focus on cybersecurity. There are plenty of
opportunities through the lens of resilience for nations and communities to
work together,” said Sir Jeremy Fleming, former Director of the UK’s GCHQ, who
spoke alongside Esper at the opening plenary.
Over 70 high-profile speakers,
including leaders from government, the private sector, and academia, gathered
for two days of dialogue. Despite challenges posed by a rapidly evolving Cyberspace,
the atmosphere was optimistic, with a shared belief in the power of
multistakeholder collaboration to maximize Cyberspace opportunities.
José Manuel Barroso, former president
of the European Commission and former prime minister of Portugal, during the
opening plenary called for the global community to collaborate on public goods
that benefit all societies.
“I
don't see any reason why governments, in spite of geopolitical interests and
differences, should not consider child protection a global public good,” Barroso said. “Competition
is unavoidable between states. Cooperation is indispensable.”
H.E.
Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Envoy
for Climate Affairs, speaking at the day two opening plenary, said the two
global initiatives instated by the Crown Prince – the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) initiative and the Women
Empowerment in Cybersecurity (WEC) initiative – have universal
resonance and serve as important catalysts for international collaboration.
“There
are areas that can be used to build confidence, and that confidence helps us to
work better with each other," Al-Jubeir said.
This
year’s event was complemented by another platform for collective action: the
Child Protection in Cyberspace Global Summit, held in conjunction with the GCF Annual
Meeting and in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the DQ Institute, and
WeProtect Global Alliance. The Summit brought together key stakeholders from
around the world to identify pathways for collaboration and collective action
towards safeguarding children in Cyberspace.
Established as an independent,
non-profit organization in 2023, GCF announced numerous projects and
partnerships at this year’s Annual Meeting.
“A range of new projects will be launched under GCF’s umbrella,
addressing some of the key issues and opportunities in Cyberspace, from cyber
economics, to closing the cybersecurity workforce and skills gap, and ensuring
that Cyberspace is safe and secure for children,” said H.E.
Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity
Authority, speaking on behalf of the GCF Board of Trustees.
