The digital revolution during the last three decades has created unprecedented levels of connectivity for mankind. While this has led to an enhancement in lifestyle and rapid economic development for many, the increased connectivity has also brought along significant risks both in the cyber and real world. The rising instances of online radicalisation and data breaches highlight some of the risks created in cyberspace.
3 Against this background, The Institute for Defence and Security Analysis (IDSA) a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India and The Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG), an international think tank with presence in South Asia (Bangladesh), Asia Pacific (Australia), Europe (Austria) and the MENA region (UAE) jointly organised the International Conference on “Digital Age and Cyber Space: Maximizing Benefits, Minimizing Risks, Unleashing Creativity” on August 28-29, 2018 in New Delhi, India. The two-day conference had the following six thematic sessions:
The Conference had high level representation from the Government of India which included Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog and Dr. Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Coordinator, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India. The conference was participated by international experts from diverse backgrounds including the government officials, policy makers, industry players, academia, civil society, and media. As such, the conference provided a platform to all the stakeholders in the cyber industry to engage in discussions and deliberate upon the challenges facing cyberspace, and finally come up with recommended policies & strategies to combat the threat of online radicalisation and data breaches.
Session I: Redefining the Rules of Engagement & Knowing the Game Changers
Moderator:
Syed Munir Khasru
Chairman, IPAG
Keynote Speakers: Richard Wike
Director of Global Attitudes Research Pew Research Centre Washington DC, US
Dr. Stephen Tankel
Associate Professor, American University, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Centre for a New American Security, American University
Panelists:
Ambassador Latha Reddy
Co-Chair of the Global Commission on Stability of Cyberspace, India
Dipakshi Mehandru
Senior Advisor Government Affairs & Public Policy Dell Inc.
Moderator:
Maj Gen Alok Deb, SM, VSM (Retd.)
Deputy Director General, IDSA
Keynote Speakers:
Farah Pandith
Head of Strategy Institute of Strategic Dialogue, UK
Andrew Balmaks
Chairman Institute for Regional Security, Australia
Panelists:
Benjamin Ang
Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore
KPM Das
Cyber Security Trust Officer CISCO India
Moderator:
Shruti Pandalai
Associate Fellow, IDSA
Keynote Speakers:
Scott Carpenter
Managing Director, Jigsaw, Google Adjunct Scholar, Washington Institute for Near East Policy New York, US
Jessie Lowry Francescon
Senior Advisor of CVE Communications, US State Department & Director of Dialogue and Communication, Hedayah Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Panelists:
Serge Stroobants
Director of Operations, Europe and MENA region Institute for Economics & Peace
Kavitha Kunhi Kannan
Public Policy Manager – India, South Asia and Central Asia, Facebook
Moderator:
Amit Sharma
Additional Director, Office of the Scientific Advisor of Defence Minister, DRDO Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. John Mallery
Research Scientist MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, US
Damien Manuel
Director Centre for Cyber Security Research & Innovation (CSRI), Deakin University
Panelists:
Omar Sherin
Director of Cyber Security Ernst & Young – MENA Region, Qatar
Ashish Sonal
CEO, Orkash
Session V: Data and Policy: Bridging the Knowledge Divide
Moderator:
Dr. Madan M. Oberoi
Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell and Technology Cell) Delhi Police, India
Keynote Speakers:
Puneet Kukreja
Partner Cyber Advisory and Threat Intelligence, Deloitte, Australia
Klon Kitchen
Senior Research Fellow Technology, National Security & Science, Heritage Foundation, US
Panelists:
Pukhraj Singh
CTO Bhujang, India
Rafiqul Islam
Lead Analyst, Cyber Initiative IPAG
Moderator:
Dr. Sunil Agarwal
Deputy Director Cyber Division, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Government of India
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Syed Munir Khasru
Chairman, IPAG
Jamil N. Jaffer
Adjunct Professor, National Security Institute (NSI); Founder and Director, National Security Law and Policy Program, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, US
Panelists:
Albana Shala
Chair, IPDC Council UNESCO, France
Munish Sharma
Consultant IDSA
