Empowering Commonwealth Countries to Safeguard their Citizens Online

Introduction

The internet is the single most transformative and enabling development in modern times, bringing significant economic, social and political benefits.

The internet and digital technologies are powerful catalysts for economic growth and development for all, and the impact of digital inclusion can be profound and wide-ranging. A recent example has been the exchange of medical knowledge, intelligence and technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The importance of being able to use the internet with safety and confidence

Legitimate users, however, are not the only ones to benefit from the ongoing increase in digital access, which is outpacing cyber security capability, creating fertile ground for malicious activity online which can be fraudulent, abusive, disruptive or extremist in nature. Threats as varied as abuse, ransomware and attacks on hospitals and critical national infrastructure are commonplace, and cybercrime and other online harms perpetrated in one country can affect users around the world.

Consider that around the ‘physical world’, every country has a police force … some have more than one. They enforce their countries’ laws, maintain order and safety and prevent, detect, investigate and pursue criminal activities. In short, their job is to keep citizens, communities, businesses, infrastructures and governments safe and secure.

Internet users form the largest and most connected community on the planet. However, this community has no police force to enforce laws, maintain order and safety and prevent, detect, investigate and pursue criminal activities.

The Commonwealth Cyber and Tech Programme (and its predecessor, the Commonwealth Cyber Security Programme), facilitated a comprehensive spectrum of activity to better protect internet users.

The Commonwealth Cyber and Tech Programme (and its predecessor, the Commonwealth Cyber Security Programme), facilitated a comprehensive spectrum of activity to better protect internet users.