Arab Conference of IT Crime Control Officials Calls for Strengthening Cooperation to Combat Financial Crimes

Tunis, Oct 22 (KUNA) -- Participants in the Third Conference of Officials Responsible for Combating Information Technology Crimes in Arab Interior Ministries called on Thursday for enhanced Arab cooperation in tackling financial crimes and for strengthening mechanisms to monitor and analyze emerging criminal methods in the field of electronic financial fraud.

The General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers said in a statement marking the conclusion of the conference, which began on Wednesday, that participants also approved a draft unified model organizational structure for establishing specialized agencies to combat information technology crimes in Arab countries. They urged the Secretariat to disseminate the draft to member states as a reference for creating or developing their national structures concerned with combating cybercrime.

The conference called on member states to strengthen cooperation and coordination among competent security agencies, financial and banking institutions, and electronic payment service providers, to contribute to the early detection of electronic financial fraud and swift response to it, and to enhance the protection of users of digital financial services in accordance with applicable national legislation. It also called for the exchange of information and expertise regarding criminal methods used in electronic financial fraud and the measures taken to combat them, thereby maximizing the benefits of successful experiences and practices in this field.

Furthermore, the conference urged the interior ministries of member states to continue developing the capacities of security personnel specialized in combating cybercrime, to help identify emerging patterns of such crimes and ensure the effectiveness of their suppression. It also called for intensifying awareness programs and campaigns targeting various segments of society to educate them about cybercrime patterns, modus operandi, and prevention methods.

The conference also approved designating the period from October 4 to 10 of each year as the annual Arab Week for Raising Awareness of the Risks of Information Technology Crimes and Prevention Measures, and called on member states and the various bodies of the Council to celebrate this week and intensify awareness programs during it.

The Third Conference of Officials Responsible for Combating Information Technology Crimes in Arab Interior Ministries began on Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers in Tunis, with the participation of representatives from the interior ministries of Arab countries, including the State of Kuwait, aiming to enhance cooperation and coordination relations among Arab states in the field of combating information technology crimes.

The State of Kuwait was represented at the conference by Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Combating Department, Colonel Hamad Al-Humoud; Major Ibar Bahaani from the General Directorate of International Relations; and Lieutenant Engineer Sultan Al-Anzi from the Cybercrime Combating Department. (End) S.B.M / A.M.S