The President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a government meeting today on countering cybercrime, the presidential press service said.
Reportedly, now there are over 31 million internet users in Uzbekistan. Over the past five years, the number of cybercrimes has increased 68 times, with over 46,000 cases recorded this year alone. The financial damage caused to individuals and legal entities surpassed 1.2 trillion soums.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev pointed to a sharp increase in cases of fraud related to personal data and electronic signatures; one of the most common schemes remains cyberfraud involving bank cards.
While, there are no reliable mechanisms for protecting personal data, and some businesses store customer information in open databases. Cybersecurity measures are also insufficient when using biometric identification and electronic signatures in the field of public services, he emphasized.
The insufficient effectiveness of measures to prevent cyberattacks in the banking system and to detect suspicious financial transactions, he underscored.
In this regard, the president stressed the need to improve the legal, technological, and methodological framework of the industry.
He separately noted the importance of implementing mandatory cybersecurity standards when working with personal data, creating a register of operators working with such data, and tightening responsibility for their unlawful use.
He also approved proposals to introduce modern protection systems when issuing online microloans, to provide for the exemption of individuals from obligations on microloans issued fraudulently without their knowledge, and to ensure round-the-clock blocking of suspicious bank accounts.
He also emphasized need for scientific research on preventing new types of cybercrimes – attacks on smart devices and the illegal seizure of crypto assets. The president approved the proposals and gave directives to enhance the capabilities of the Cybersecurity Center under the Interior Ministry, bolster the effectiveness of combating cybercrimes, and also introduce seven new types of expert examinations for the prompt investigation of cybercrimes.
