PM Narendra Modi inaugurates fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) in Hotel Pullman, Aerocity, New Delhi. GCCS is one of the world’s largest conferences on cyber space.

The theme of two-day conference is “Cyber4All”. There are four sub-themes also: Cyber4InclusiveGrowth, Cyber4Digitalinclusion, Cyber4Security and Cyber4Diplomacy, where the representatives from around 124 countries and 33 Ministerial delegates from 31 countries, including Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe, will attend the conference.

The goal of GCCS 2017 is to promote an inclusive Cyber Space with focus on policies and frameworks for inclusivity, sustainability, development, security, safety & freedom, technology and partnerships for upholding digital democracy, maximizing collaboration for strengthening security and safety and advocating dialogue for digital diplomacy.

Ministers from France, the Netherlands, Israel, Mexico and the UK will also grace the event. The speaker list also includes Houlin Zhao (Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union), Mukesh Ambani (Chairman, Reliance Industries), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises) and other industry leaders. The event, which is expected to draw over 3,500 participants, will reinforce India’s position in cyberspace, the ministry said. The conference is being organized to promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy. There will also be virtual participation from over 2,800 locations across the world that will be connected in an interactive mode.

“This is a historic moment for all of us to host the fifth edition of the Global Conference of Cyber Space in India. I believe it is in recognition of India's emerging role as a massive cyber power, accelerated by the Digital India push, which has acquired international acknowledgment," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Electronics & IT and Law & Justice Minister.

“The GCCS 2017 is four times bigger than its previous edition in terms of its magnitude. The last conference held in the Netherlands saw about 1,800 delegates, and I am happy to announce that we have over 10,000 delegates who will participate in person. There will also be virtual participation from over 2,800 locations across the world and will be connected in an interactive mode," Mr Prasad said. The statement said representatives from 124 countries will participate in the two-day event.

During the event, PM Modi also launched the UMANG app. The Umang App is a one-stop mobile application that provides integration with popular customer-centric services like Aadhaar and Digilocker.

PM Modi said, “One of the major focus areas should be the training of well-equipped and capable professionals to counter cyber threats. Cyber-warriors will remain on the alert against cyber-attacks. The term "hacking" may have acquired an exciting, even if dubious, overtone. We need to ensure that cyber protection becomes an attractive and viable career option for the youth. On a relative note, nations must also take responsibility to ensure that the digital space does not become a playground for the dark forces of terrorism and radicalization. Information sharing and coordination among security agencies is essential to counter the ever-changing threat landscape.

Surely, we can walk the fine balance between privacy and openness on one hand, and national security on the other. Together, we can overcome the differences between global and open systems on the one hand, and nation-specific legal requirements on the other. While speaking on the various social media platforms, Prime Minister Modi said that these tools and platforms are making cyberspace participative for all. He said, “News that experts tell us from studios is now supplemented by experiences highlighted on social media. This transition, to a blend of expertise and experience, is the contribution of the cyber world.” Lastly, PM Narendra Modi said, “GCCS 2017 is one of the biggest cyberspace conferences in the world.”