National Institute of Cyber Security (NICS) President Ho Chuan-te (何全德) spoke before the Legislative Transportation Committee on Monday. Ho explained how NICS has helped the government expand their global relationships through digital diplomacy.
During his briefing, Ho listed some of the digital threats Taiwan currently faces, many of which align with those highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024. These include cyber attacks on critical infrastructure systems, personal information leaks, social manipulation with AI deepfakes, managing the information security supply chain, and monitoring the largely unchecked development of generative AI, among others.
Ho explained that the workforce at NICS is young, motivated, and includes many international scholars and specialists available for consultation. At the NICS they share information on how best to address the threats faced by Taiwan and the world at large. They participate in outreach as well, sending experts to other countries. Ho cited a recent exchange with Paraguay in which Taiwanese experts visited to review its medical systems and information security, pointing out that this type of digital diplomacy has improved Taiwan’s relationship with many different countries.
Moving forward, the NICS will research and develop cybersecurity plans that can be implemented in four years. They plan to cooperate with third-party organizations in order to find and train new security personnel. Also on the agenda is the creation of a digital information protection system that detects and manages misinformation and fraud.