GCF Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Centre, Child Protection Initiative
The fifth Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking the launch of a new knowledge community focused on aviation cybersecurity, in partnership with Riyadh Air. The event, attended by Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, also saw the unveiling of two significant initiatives aimed at child protection and cyber resilience.
The new aviation cybersecurity community, known as the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (CCE), will concentrate on the economic aspects of cybersecurity. Its mission is to drive research, foster collaboration, and develop frameworks to bolster global cybersecurity. The CCE's establishment aligns with the GCF's broader goal of bridging the 2.8 million workforce gap in cybersecurity, with a particular focus on encouraging women's participation.
In addition to the CCE, the GCF announced the Child Protection and Cyberspace Initiative. This initiative, accompanied by the CPC Index framework, is designed to safeguard children online. The forum also revealed a global capacity-building initiative in cyberspace, launched in partnership with the United Nations. This initiative seeks to strengthen online resilience and promote inclusive cyberspace.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the importance of collective action in securing cyberspace in a video address to the GCF community. The GCF, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, has established the Centre for Cyber Economics to work towards these shared goals.
The fifth GCF, held in Riyadh, has seen significant strides in aviation cybersecurity and child protection online. The launch of the CCE and the Child Protection and Cyberspace Initiative, along with the global capacity-building initiative, demonstrate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing collective action and strengthening global cybersecurity.
