UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told the international community on Tuesday that data disinformation and cybersecurity were major problems for developing nations as they seek to benefit from global digitalisation.

In a debate on the role of digital cooperation that Pakistan co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Rwanda, the country’s UN ambassador Munir Akram underlined the need for greater cooperation to ensure that all nations benefit from digitalisation. 

“Data disruption and disinformation are areas that we need to address,” Ambassador Akram said.

“Cybersecurity is a key in the homeland security metrics that countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia … would have to address to ensure our national security.” 

In today’s digitalised world, “digital cooperation offers immense opportunities to address the challenges we face in our pursuit of sustainable development”, he added. 

Digital cooperation, he noted, could play a pivotal role in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices. “But we must also recognise that digital cooperation presents its own set of challenges; privacy concerns, cybersecurity risks, taxation, and the digital divide,” he warned. 

“That’s why we must work together to build trust, establish ethical frameworks, and bridge the digital divide that separates developed and developing nations,” the Pakistani ambassador said. “This can ensure that the benefits of digital technologies are accessible to all.”

On Tuesday, UN Secre­tary General António Guterres told the Security Council that artificial intelligence must be used to accelerate human develop­ment, cautioning against the malicious use of this revolutionary technology. Mr Guterres warned that if AI became primarily a weapon to launch cyberattacks, generate deep fakes, or for spreading disinformation and hate speech, it would have very serious consequences for global peace and security.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2023