Philippines highlights options to respond to cybersecurity threats

MANILA, Philippines — Considered a major hub for social networking and its vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, the Philippines highlighted at the United Nations a “multitude of options” to respond to cybersecurity threats as a pressing global concern.

Kira Danganan-Azucena, charge d’affaires and deputy permanent representative of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations, said at the international level, the Philippines recognizes efforts to collectively address disruptive global threats. 

“We, however, also recognize the challenges in addressing the divergent interests of member states and forging a common approach toward achieving our shared goal,” Azucena said late last month during the First Substantive Session Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security.

Azucena said there is a multitude of options that could be pursued, highlighting international and regional cooperation among states is an imperative. 

“Cooperation requires continuing dialogue to reduce and anticipate the risks and protect critical national and international infrastructures. Cooperation would lead to the establishment of mechanisms to provide remedies to problems faced by states,” Azucena said. 

She noted that cooperation could focus not only on addressing the threats but also on the opportunities brought about by the use of technology.

She said that leaders from industry, academe and civil society should work together with governments to prevent cyber conflict, restrict offensive cyber operations by nonstate actors, and mitigate the daily economic threats that the use of technology poses to the global economy, noting the need for an approach that is inclusive, comprehensive and responsive.

Azucena emphasized that an easier cyber incident attribution should be enabled. 

“This will help verify compliance with principles of international law such as non-interference in the internal affairs of other governments and holding states more responsible for what happens in their cyber realm,” she added.