Session
Organizer 1: Harisa Shahid, NetMission.asia
Organizer 2: Muhammad Umair Ali, ITU-UN, ICANN, ISOC, IEEE, Net Mission Dot Asia
Organizer 3: Connie Man Hei Siu, 🔒International Telecommunication Union
Speaker 1: Jacco Pepijin, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Jenna Manhau Fung, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Daniel Lohrmann, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Hafiz Muhammad Farooq, Private Sector, Saudi Aramco
Muhammad Umair Ali, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Connie Man Hei Siu, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Harisa Shahid, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: This room layout will be best for our session providing speakers on one side and participants on the other side of the room. It will allow them to interact and discuss in a better way. room will be able to accommodate more people as Critical Infrastructure interests the general public more so session will allow more audience to learn and advocate for securing their country's critical infrastructure. This layout will also suitable for Online Participation because we can have them in front on a projector.
A. How can developing countries appropriately use AI for securing critical infrastructure, considering resource constraints and expertise gaps? B. How can capacity-building initiatives be designed and implemented to enhance the technical expertise of developing country professionals in utilizing AI for threat detection and incident response in critical infrastructure sectors? C. How can international partnerships be structured to facilitate the transfer of AI technologies and expertise to developing countries for strengthening their critical infrastructure security?
What will participants gain from attending this session? This session will equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of critical infrastructure security, from defining its importance to navigating the evolving landscape of cyber threats. The workshop will then delve into AI's potential as a cost-effective solution for mitigating cyber threats in developing economies.Participants will explore successful policy frameworks implemented by technologically advanced countries and discuss how these frameworks can be adapted or new ones can be developed for resource-constrained environments. The session will conclude by exploring strategies for building regional and international collaboration to foster knowledge sharing, resource allocation, and capacity development, empowering developing countries to leverage AI for robust critical infrastructure security. They will be equipped to play a more informed and influential role as technologically aware citizens and advocates for secure AI adoption in their respective regions.
Description:
With the advent of the internet and increased integration of connected technologies at all levels, opportunities and threats have evolved multifold. Critical infrastructure such as energy grids, key industrial infrastructure, health installations, financial institutions and strategic government establishments (including nuclear facilities) are vital for survival of countries and people. However, if they fall into the wrong hands or become defunct, the national security of a state and personal safety of the population are both jeopardized. According to the Internet Crime Report of the FBI, In 2023, 2 in 5 ransomware attacks were on critical infrastructure and these are statistics from the reported attacks. Developed countries or countries with strong digital infrastructure have the means and resources to cope with cyber adversaries however, developing and least developed countries that have fewer resources become more vulnerable and helpless. Examples of such attacks include the Ivano-Frankivsk region grid power outage in December 2015 that was cyber attacked and left more than 230,000 residents out of power. Another example is when Iran’s nuclear facility was attacked by a Stuxnet computer virus that damages centrifuges used to separate out the nuclear material. Our session aims to discuss use of emerging technology such as AI to protect key critical infrastructure, strategies and frameworks to build cyber resilience based on AI for developing countries and the role of stakeholders such as government, private sector, civil society and the technical community in designing capacity building initiatives for experts in low income countries. For countries in all stages of economic development, it is necessary to have clear policy, education, skill development, intelligence sharing and proper response plans to build strong and robust defense against cyber threats to the critical infrastructure but low income countries have limited resources and thus require more regional and international support and resource optimization.
Through multi-stakeholder discussion, participants from both developed and developing countries will engage with speakers, drawing on their real-world experiences to generate valuable outcomes. 1) The workshop will identify key areas where developing countries face expertise gaps in AI and critical infrastructure security and will encourage collaboration among stakeholders to address these gaps. 2) The workshop fosters dialogue and relationship building among stakeholders from different regions. Speakers will share insights to formulate a comprehensive framework that promotes responsible and secure AI use for critical infrastructure protection. 3) Identify opportunities for regional and international collaboration on knowledge sharing, resource allocation, and capacity building initiatives 4) To maximize impact, a detailed workshop report will be published on the IGF website, shared with relevant technical communities, and promoted via blogs to raise awareness and inspire further action on AI and critical infrastructure security in developing countries.
Hybrid Format: This workshop fosters a dynamic and inclusive environment for both in-person and remote participants. We'll leverage a user-friendly online platform such as Zoom or Google Meet with real-time Q&A, collaborative activities using tools like Mentimeter or Miro, and polling to gauge prior knowledge and interests. To ensure seamless participation, in-person attendees will have dedicated microphones and a clear view of remote colleagues. During presentations and discussions, we'll allocate equal time for online and onsite speakers. A dedicated online moderator will manage the online chat. For Q&A, we’ll utilize breakout rooms. Moderators will ensure alternating pattern of questions from remote and onsite participants. Following the workshop, recordings and key takeaways will be shared with all participants, ensuring everyone benefits from the full discussion. We'll also leverage social media with designated hashtags to encourage pre and post-workshop dialogue and extend the workshop's reach beyond the immediate session.