For the first time, Kaspersky is set to participate in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), hosted by the United Nations. This year, the 15th annual event will be run online from November 2 to November 17[1], with the overarching theme of Internet for human resilience and solidarity. As part of IGF 2020, the global cybersecurity company is organizing four major activities to increase awareness, transparency and international cooperation in the fight against cyberthreats.
The year 2020 has seen a surge in individuals, businesses and organizations relying on the internet. Coupled with the rapid rise in online criminal activity, this trend has made cybersecurity more important than ever to ensure the internet is both safe and sustainable. As a company that is focused on building a more protected world, Kaspersky aims to spark the global conversation among different stakeholder groups, including policymakers, on broadening international cooperation to negate global digital security challenges.
At the Forum, Kaspersky’s CEO, Eugene Kaspersky, will give a keynote speech to high-level leaders on November 13, where he will address, among other topics, the importance of international cooperation for global cybersecurity policies. The company will also hold an event on stalkerware, organized with the Coalition Against Stalkerware. A workshop on assurance and transparency in information and communication technology (ICT) supply chain security will also be organized together with fellow partners. Additionally, Kaspersky's multi-stakeholder best practices will be represented at an online booth.
“Cybersecurity is an enabler for successful and sustainable digital transformation, which has become even more important amid the global pandemic. Therefore, international cooperation to ensure stable and secure development of cyberspace is all the more crucial. We have decided to take part in IGF 2020 as, first – it brings various communities, regions and leaders together to discuss pressing current issues cyberspace is facing, and, second – it inspires those with decision-making power in both the public and private sectors to take action. We’re honored to be a part of this international dialogue and to contribute to building a secure and trusted cyberspace to make sure it is safe and open for everyone,” comments Eugene Kaspersky.
IGF 2020 will feature over 200 sessions in total, organized around four main areas of focus: data, environment, inclusion and trust. The theme of ‘digital cooperation’ and the United Nations Secretary-General's roadmap for digital cooperation will also feature prominently. The Forum will also feature a dedicated roundtable for governments to discuss the notion of trust during COVID-19 times.
‘‘Despite the extraordinary challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, it has undoubtedly underlined the importance of everyone having meaningful access to a safe and open internet. The IGF 2020 discussions will engage some of the most prominent leaders and experts in a dialogue on a broad spectrum of people-centered perspectives on how digital technologies and related policies help societies become more resilient,’’ says Chengetai Masango, Head of the UN IGF Secretariat.
Traditionally, the Forum welcomes over 3,000 onsite participants, on average, and a similar number of online attendees. This year, it is expected that these numbers will grow. High-level leadership from governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia, businesses, and the technical community from all parts of the world are expected to actively participate.
Live broadcasts of the high-level sessions will be available at UN Web TV webtv.un.org, the other IGF 2020 events will be streamed via the Forum’s official YouTube channel – youtube.com/user/igf/. The full schedule of this year’s IGF events is available at intgovforum.org/multilingual/igf-2020-schedule/ (access requires registration).
