BRICS leaders stress on enhancing cooperation against terrorist misuse of ICTs

Salcete (Goa) [India], Oct. 16 (ANI): The increasing misuse of the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for terrorist purposes poses a threat to international peace and security, the BRICS leaders on Sunday emphasised the need to enhance international cooperation against terrorist and criminal misuse of ICTs and reaffirm the general approach laid in the eThekwini, Fortaleza and Ufa declarations in this regard. "The increasing misuse of ICTs for terrorist purposes poses a threat to international peace and security. We emphasise the need to enhance international cooperation against terrorist and criminal misuse of ICTs and reaffirm the general approach laid in the eThekwini, Fortaleza and Ufa declarations in this regard," said the BRICS leaders in the declaration issued here. "We will continue to work together for the adoption of the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of States, including through the process of UNGGE. We recognise that the states have the leading role to ensure stability and security in the use of ICTs," they said, while reaffirming the key role of the UN in addressing the issues related to the security in the use of ICTs. Reaffirming that ICT expansion is a key enabler for sustainable development for international peace and security and for human rights, the leaders said, "We agree to strengthen joint efforts to enhance security in the use of ICTs, combating the use of ICTs for criminal and terrorist purposes and improving cooperation between our technical, law enforcement, R&D and innovation in the field of ICTs and capacity building institutions." They expressed their commitment to bridging digital and technological divides, in particular between developed and developing countries, and recognised that their approach must be multidimensional and inclusive and contain an evolving understanding of what constitutes access, emphasising the quality of that access. The leaders stressed on the use and development of ICTs through international and regional cooperation and on the basis of universally accepted norms and principles of international law, including the Charter of the UN. "We advocate also for an open, non-fragmented and secure Internet, and reaffirm that the Internet is a global resource and that States should participate on an equal footing in its evolution and functioning, taking into account the need to involve relevant stakeholders in their respective roles and responsibilities," they said. (ANI)