Qatari cyber safety platform wins award at global summit

 

 

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) won the 'Champions' award at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2022, during an awards ceremony held on the sidelines of the WSIS Forum being held at the headquarters of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, under the theme 'Information and Communication Technologies for Prosperity, Inclusion and Flexibility'.The MCIT won the award in the 'Building Confidence and Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technology' category for its SafeSpace platform project, which aims to implant the culture of security and digital safety. The MCIT project defeated five other projects to win the award.Mashael Ali al-Hammadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Information Technology Affairs at MCIT, and head of Qatar's delegation participating in the WSIS 2022 Forum, said: "Winning this prestigious award is a testament to the extent of investment and efforts made by the ministry in the field of digital transformation."Al-Hammadi, who received the award at the ceremony, explained that Qatar keeps pace with all developments in the field of information and communications technology, and has invested a lot in this important vital field. This, in turn, has enabled the country to take advanced positions globally, and the WSIS award-crowned SafeSpace project is one example of success in digital growth and IT creativity.Seventeen projects from Qatar qualified for the WSIS awards in their diverse categories, which aim to evaluate projects and activities that benefit from the power of ICT to advance sustainable development, with two of these projects reaching the final stage and getting nominated for the 'Champions' award.SafeSpace aims to implant the culture of security, digital safety and awareness among all segments of Qatari and Arab society, including teachers, students, youth, parents, children and others, based on three basic principles: prevention, protection and empowerment, thereby enhancing the user's capabilities to become safer in the digital world.This platform is the official online presence of all initiatives, which fall under the Digital Safety Program of the MCIT's Digital Community Department, to be its main window, supported by awareness campaigns for digital security and safety on social media sites, public places, the Digital Safety Ambassadors Programme, the Electronic Digital Safety Library and digital safety workshops.Qatar, the golden strategic partner of the forum, is represented by a high-level official delegation that includes representatives of a number of official entities in the country, led by al-Hammadi.The Qatari delegation includes representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Planning and Statistics Authority, Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Center and Ehsan Centre.The forum provides an opportunity for discussions, consultations, co-operation and information exchange between different stakeholders to ensure that ICT is used as a key enabler in achieving the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals.