PNG eyes cyber focus to improve disaster response

INFORMATION and Communication Technology Minister Timothy Masiu says using technology to increase monitoring and response to natural disasters is important.
He said during the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APRIGF) and Asia Pacific Network Internet Centre’s (APNIC) 54th Conference in Singapore last week.
Masiu and Minister for Internal Security Peter Tsiamalili Jr represented the country at the meetings.
Masiu delivered Papua New Guinea’s aspiration in the region and an update on Papua New Guinea’s progress in terms of cyber, critical infrastructure, digital services and other related policy directions.
These key discussion items covered by Masiu are susbtantive provisions under the Digital Government Act (2022) and highlighted as programme delivery in the draft Digital Government Plan 2023-2027.
The South Bougainville MP also alluded to the need to focus on shared regional goals such as using technology to increase monitoring and response to natural disasters.
With over 2.5 billion internet users, the Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the world.
During the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, there was a reported 100 per cent increase in cyber attacks on infrastructure, services and databases across Asia and the Pacific, as work goes online.
Masiu said cybercrime and online gender based violence (GBV) had also increased exponentially due to the abuse of social media platforms.
“Hence, collaboration and sharing of experience in governance of the internet is key to enable resilience and growth in the various economies.”