 |
| Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long speaks at the Cyber Security Summit on May 30. — VNS Photo |
HANOI — The recent boom in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has exposed Vietnam’s information security to new risks. It is crucial to quickly investigate these issues and find solutions to prevent their negative effects.
The remarks were heard at the Vietnam Security Summit 2024, the sixth conference and exposition on cybersecurity, which opened in Hanoi on Thursday.
This annual event on information security is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the Agency for Information Security (AIS) and the IEC Group.
It is an authoritative forum where experts share their perspectives, visions, and solutions to ensure database security in the advanced AI era.
Speaking at the event's opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long affirmed that ensuring information security requires synchronized coordination between organisations, businesses and government agencies.
This cooperation will not only expand opportunities for sharing information and experience but also strengthen the ability to respond quickly and effectively to threats, he said.
Long said that in order to ensure safety amid the AI boom and other rapidly emerging technologies, government agencies and organizations need to clearly understand the current state of their information systems, conduct comprehensive assessments, introduce information security systems at various levels, and fully implement information security measures.
Last year, cyber attacks caused an estimated $8 trillion in losses worldwide, which equates to roughly $21 billion per day.
This figure is expected to continue to grow and is likely to reach $9.5 trillion this year.
Every 11 seconds, an organization is attacked by ransomware. At the same time, more than 353 million people have been affected by a data breach, with the global average cost reaching $4.45 million.
Summit participants heard that these are “significant figures,” especially at a time when AI technologies are booming.
Speaking at the Vietnam Security Summit 2024, Tran Dang Khoa, deputy director of AIS, said the forms of online fraud are now very diversified, posing risks to users.
Core noted that cyber information security is not an “option” but a “must” requirement.
He added that all ministries, branches and local governments must organize inspections and evaluations of compliance with information security laws and give priority to ensuring information systems at different levels and complying with regulations on the protection of personal information and data.
He also strongly recommended prioritizing inspections and evaluations of departments, organizations and companies tasked with managing and operating major information systems and multiple shared information systems.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the National Population Data Center under the Ministry of Public Security, warned of the risks and cybersecurity challenges of AI applications, and expressed concern about potential privacy violations from facial and voice recognition surveillance technology.
He said there was still no common global voice on the development of AI and issues surrounding its ethics and responsibility.
Therefore, to solve this problem, it is necessary to complete the rules for AI to stay ahead of the trend and issue ethical regulations on the process of AI development, production, application and use, he added.
He said research, development and applications of AI must go hand in hand with cyber safety and security.
In addition, AIS recommended making effective use of digital platforms, including those announced at previous information security events.
Within the framework of the Vietnam Security Summit 2024 event, a free information security risk management, detection and early warning platform for organizations and enterprises was officially launched.
The platform is expected to contribute to improving cybersecurity protection for organizations and businesses in Vietnam.
Alongside the plenary sessions and thematic seminars, a cybersecurity exhibition was also held, with the participation of over 50 leading security solution providers, including Viettel Cyber Security Company, Cloudflare, Sophos, Opswat and CMC. — VNS
