Saudi Arabia Hosts Global Summit On Child Protection In Cyberspace This October

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to host the Child Protection in Cyberspace (CPC) Global Summit on October 2 and 3. This event is part of the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) in Riyadh, under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The summit aims to foster international cooperation for a safer cyberspace for children.

Organised by the GCF Foundation and the National Cybersecurity Authority, the summit collaborates with entities like the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNICEF, DQ Institute, and WeProtect Global Alliance. It will gather global decision-makers, government officials, international organisations, and private sector representatives to discuss child safety online.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted that this summit offers a crucial chance to align global efforts. "The summit represents a significant opportunity to coordinate global efforts to maximize the benefits of technology in children's lives while protecting them from its risks," she stated. She stressed that collaboration is key to ensuring cyberspace is safe for children’s learning and socialising.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin underscored that safeguarding children online is a collective duty. "Protecting children online is a shared responsibility and more urgent than ever," she noted, especially as children's internet usage increases. The summit will unite leaders across sectors to secure a safe digital environment for young users.

The summit will address various topics and initiatives aimed at bolstering efforts to protect children online. National Cybersecurity Authority Governor Eng. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed emphasised that it will bring together key stakeholders from international and non-profit organisations as well as the private sector.

Founder of the DQ Institute Dr. Yuhyun Park stressed the importance of coordinated collaboration among stakeholders to enhance children's safety online. Executive Director of WeProtect Global Alliance Ian Drennan pointed out that online threats to children are an urgent concern, necessitating focus on creating safer digital spaces globally.

Summit Themes and Objectives

This year's GCF edition operates under the theme "Maximizing Joint Action in Cyberspace." It will feature sessions discussing five main pillars: bridging cybersecurity disparities, cyberspace behaviour, social infrastructure in cyberspace, a thriving cyber economy, and new cyber horizons.

The GCF Foundation was established under a Royal Order in 2023 as an independent entity. It aims to unify global stakeholders' efforts through partnerships, collaboration, and knowledge exchange while fostering dialogue among leading cybersecurity experts to support worldwide economic and social development.

The CPC Global Summit represents an essential step towards enhancing child protection in cyberspace. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it seeks to create actionable strategies for ensuring children's safety online amidst their increasing use of modern technologies.

With inputs from SPA