Page 35 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU and the National Cybersecurity Authority of Saudi Arabia Launch a New

Global Program to Keep Children Safe Online

The International Telecommunication and their families. It will do so by creating cyberspace, as represented by the Crown
Union (ITU) and the National Cybersecurity a national, regional and international Prince initiative for Safe Children in the
Authority (NCA) of the Kingdom of set of measures and programmes that Cyber World.” Khalid Al-Sabti, Governor
Saudi Arabia have entered into a will ensure child online protection while of the National Cybersecurity Authority
strategic partnership and launched a empowering children with the necessary (NCA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
global program on “Creating a Safe and cyber skills to fully benefit from the online noted: “Creating a safer and more secure
Prosperous Cyberspace for Children". The environment. “Ensuring children’s online cyberspace while empowering children is a
program will foster innovative policies, safety has become more pressing than top priority for us, in line with H.R.H Crown
ensure upgrading of skills, promote global ever before,” said ITU Secretary-General Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Global
dialogue and strengthen global efforts to Houlin Zhao. “This new global program Initiative for Safe Children in the Cyber
implement the ITU Child Online Protection strengthens the partnership between World – announced earlier this year during
(COP) Guidelines, launched in June 2020. ITU and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF). We
The new strategic partnership aims to reduce online crimes targeting children worked hand in hand with ITU to design
develop and implement child online safety and provide parents, teachers, educators this comprehensive global program and
policies among governments, industries, and children with the necessary safety we are anticipating a meaningful impact
and civil societies to increase skills digital skills to face online risks. ITU on increased international cooperation
development and knowledge sharing with appreciates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s and coordination on child online
all relevant stakeholders, including children commitment to protecting children in protection." The partnership will contribute
to ITU's mission of ensuring cybersecurity
at the international level. As a result,
governments will benefit from child
online protection policies based on the
new 2020 COP Guidelines and other tools
developed by ITU and COP partners. “This
is a landmark collaboration to address
child online safety at the global level,"
said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of
the ITU Telecommunication Development
Bureau. “While promoting connectivity
and the use of digital tools by children,
the global program sponsored by the
National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will help ITU
and partners of the Child Online Protection
initiative to build capacity and empower
national stakeholders, including children,
with digital safety skills."

Egypt Aims to Localize Tablet Manufacturing

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly Talaat indicated that negotiations are huge investments that will create 500
announced, that the government aims currently underway with one of the major job opportunities. In September, Egypt's
to localize the manufacturing of tablet international companies specialized in Minister of Education said that his ministry
computers to be used for educational this industry to establish tablet production has 'ambitious plans' in the coming period
purposes. It came during Madbouly's lines in Egypt. "This will allow tablets to provide all students in Egypt with digital
meeting with Minister of Education Tarek to be manufactured locally to cover learning resources. He noted that students
Shawky, Minister of Communications and demand, with an export opportunity as in Grades 10 to 12 have access to such
Information Technology Amr Talaat, and well," he added. The Communications resources, with the ministry set to extend
Minister of State for Military Production Ministry announced earlier its intention to these services to the whole 12 million
Mohamed Ahmed Morsi. Minister establish a new technology factory with students from Grade 4 to 9.

35 DECEMBER 2020