Joint platform needed to shield small firms from cybercrime

In a bid to combat the rising cybercrime threat to micro and small ventures, industry leaders and government officials called for the establishment of a collaborative platform to address digital-security and data- protection challenges.
The platform, proposed by Samira Zuberi Himika, chairman and senior partner of consultancy firm Inspira, would involve multiple ministries, including commerce, industries, posts and telecoms, alongside law enforcement agencies and the private sector.
"We can create a platform...to address digital security and cyber crimes in MSMEs," said Ms Himika at a policy dialogue titled 'MSME Digital Security and Data Protection Challenges, Way Forward' in Dhaka on Sunday.
She said the platform would include a dedicated workforce alongside a call centre, a knowledge centre and a database. Ms Himika said the call centre is a must-have and immediate requirement for the digitisation of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
At the programme, Ms Himika said the platform would train MSMEs in digital literacy and the details of digital activities needed to run their businesses.
Inspira Advisory & Consulting Limited organised the event at the city's Brac Inn auditorium.
Speaking as chief guest of the event, ICT Division Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said the government is committed to consulting more frequently with private sector leaders and stakeholders on creating laws and regulations for the sector.
He said awareness development is very important for both the public and private sectors to promote digital security and data protection.
Agreeing with stakeholders, he said all stakeholders need to meet frequently to identify gaps and loopholes in regulations. "Once a law is formulated, it cannot be changed easily. There are many bureaucratic processes."
Admitting that online betting is harming many people, he urged the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take action against those sites.
Describing digital literacy as essential for digital security, BTRC Director General Brig Gen Mohammad Khalil-Ur-Rahman said all public and private sector stakeholders need to interact frequently for good communication to improve digital security.
On the betting sites, Mr Rahman said BTRC is working tirelessly to ensure a safe internet. They have blocked more than 15,000 pornographic and betting sites over the years.
He urged MSMEs to bring their social media concerns to BTRC as social media platforms have good contacts with them.
Director General of National Cyber Security Agency Abu Sayed Md Kamruzzaman said the law is not set in stone. If needed for the development of digital security, the law will be amended and changed accordingly.
Managing Director SME Foundation Salahuddin Mahmud stressed the need for digital training.
He said digital training is very important for MSMEs, as they are the source of the country's growth.
Tanvir Hassan Zoha, managing director of Backdoor Pvt Ltd, and Md Saimun Reza Talukder, senior lecturer at BRAC University's School of Law, presented a keynote address at the event.
They said the current legal framework does not have clear definitions for some cybercrimes, a classification system for these crimes and the context needed for implementing a mutual legal assistance treaty. These omissions are concerning.
They said people have to be aware; they have to be smart along with the smart Bangladesh.
How can transnational cybercrimes be brought to trial and how legal jurisdiction be determined when there is no legal infrastructure for these crimes, they raised the questions for policymakers.
Besides, they highlighted data classification and data interoperability between government and non-government institutions as critical challenges.

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