Senator Grace Poe has urged the tech-savvy youth to lead the country’s fight against cybercrime.
During the forum “Tech for Good 2023” at the Asian Institute of Management, Poe said the youth should help the government in improving the country’s digital infrastructure.
“It’s well known that in matters of technology, the government tends to fall behind the curve. So, we need brilliant guys like you to bring us up to speed,” Poe said.
The senator cited government efforts to fight cybercrime through a small office – the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which only has a P320 million proposed budget and a staff composed of 53 people.
“The CICC is a small fish in a big pond. Their P320 million proposed budget, which has zero confidential funds, is a drop in the government coffers. They have a staff complement of only 53 individuals, one of whom is the only certified chief information security officer, Poe said.
“And yet this small agency is leading the fight against cybercriminals. Just last year, they helped arrest three members of a foreign terrorist group. They raided a cyberscam den, which netted 800 computers, 2,000 mobile phones, and thousands of pre-registered sim cards,” she added.
Internet technology has become important in everyone’s lives since the pandemic disrupted the usual face to face interactions, Poe said.
“The internet and its related technologies have remained a key part of our post-pandemic reality. Digital technology and the business models it enables now define our lives and the choices we make,” she said.
With 80 percent of households with no internet connection, Poe said the youth should pave the way for the new digital world.
“We will work to create an environment which will enable you to lead the mission of digital inclusion,” she said.
