In his speech at the 10th substantive session of the 2021-2025 Open-ended Working Group on security and the use of ICTs, Cuban Deputy Minister of Communications Ernesto Rodríguez called to prohibit the militarization of cyberspace and offensive cyber operations.

“It is the duty of all States to ensure that cyberspace does not become a battlefield, but is preserved as a resource for the common good,” he said.

At the same time, he opposed the use of ICTs and digital platforms for disinformation campaigns and political manipulation.

Rodríguez noted that the growing use of artificial intelligence in sophisticated cyber attacks could put the functioning of critical infrastructures and society in general at risk.

“Although cyber threats that undermine the sovereignty of States and directly interfere in their internal affairs are not new, they are becoming more regular and complex as a result of the rapid advance of technology,” the Cuban representative stressed.

The deputy minister pointed out that the exclusively peaceful use of ICTs must be established as a global obligation, so that their potential for social and economic development can be privileged.

In addition, he urged that the group’s final report also include the States’ intention to work together to establish a common terminology in the identification and response to cyber incidents, which would facilitate exchange, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Another critical aspect that requires our attention is the significant technological gap that developing countries face, which limits their capacity to confront current and potential threats, the deputy minister emphasized.

For this reason, he considered it essential to establish commitments that contribute to reducing this gap, through the provision of technical assistance, as well as the transfer of technology and equipment to developing countries that allow them to strengthen security in the use of ICTs.

“These initiatives must be accompanied by a firm commitment to eliminate unilateral coercive measures, which hinder the possibilities of the countries where they are implemented to create a secure cyber environment,” Rodriguez said.

The aforementioned actions can contribute to a safer environment in the use of ICTs, he noted, and insisted that the most effective way to identify and jointly confront cyber threats lies in the adoption of a legally binding international instrument.

Such an instrument would establish “clear obligations for all States. We must move towards that goal,” he concluded.

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