New Delhi

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has called upon Friends of BRICS countries to join hands in tackling challenges emanating from cyber security.

While participating in the meeting in Johannesburg in South Africa along with representatives from Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the NSA warned that the gravity of cyber risks will increase exponentially with the advent of disruptive technologies such as AI, Big Data and Internet of Things.

Apart from drawing attention of participants to such risks, Mr Doval also highlighted the linkages between cyber criminals and terrorists including the use of cyber space for financing, money laundering, radicalizing, lone wolf attacks, recruitment and secured communication. He said that the younger population is vulnerable to spread of extremist ideologies through social media. The reason for this is that they are technology savvy and have impressionable minds.

The NSA said that the Global South needs to overcome limitations of resources. In this endeavor, India will always remain at the forefront  in working closely with the Global South.

Mr Doval also had many bilateral meetings with his counterparts from BRICS and Friends of BRICS countries