BENGALURU: The role of government in internet policy-making cannot be ignored, said Deputy National Security Adviser Dr Arvind Gupta speaking at Cyber 360 — a cyber security conclave organised by the Synergia Foundation here on Tuesday.
“The next major players in the internet could very well come from India. Hence, a suitable network and architecture is needed, and the government has to be proactive. A number of state of the art institutions are being set up across the country to address the issue. Also, keeping in mind the fear of cyber attacks and cyber warfare, it has become paramount to set up an adequate network,” said Gupta.
He added that international security has been compromised in recent times, mainly by non-state actors. “Cyber security occupies the top position when it comes to global security. Cyber issues are being discussed by nations across the world, and even at the level of the United Nations. Considering that there are fault-lines in international security, we are looking to eliminate all cyber threats that can threaten national security. Internet governance is also an important facet. When you have three billion people across the world who have access to the internet, governance is imperative. However, there has been no consensus on the clear definition of cyber security,” he added.
Earlier, additional chief secretary, Home, Karnataka, S K Pattanayak said, “In today’s times, internet is of great relevance. However, information is not at all secure these days. The government must make efforts to tackle issues arising out of cyber threats.”
Later, in a panel discussion, former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon opined that a new world order has emerged in Asia.
“The geo-politics in the region is huge with players like India, China. Cyber security has become a fresh domain of contention. However, the industry is mainly controlled by players from the USA. Cyber world has magnified existing trends, though it has not really disrupted the world order. This will take some time to achieve,” he added.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt opined that the internet of things (IoT) is of primary importance, adding that by 2020, 90 per cent of the world will have mobile internet.