Uzbekistan Grapples with Growing Cybercrime Epidemic: 5,500 Incidents in 11 Months

A Surge in Cybercrimes Across the Country

The Uzbekistan authorities have sounded the alarm over a surge in cybercrimes across the country, with a staggering 5,500 incidents reported over the past 11 months. This alarming trend was highlighted during a high-level meeting convened by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is pushing for the rapid development of the IT sector and digitalization of public administration.

A significant proportion of these crimes - a whopping 70% - involved fraud and theft related to bank cards. This has raised concerns about the safety and security of citizens’ financial data, and the government is under pressure to take swift action to protect it.

Presidential Decree to Enhance Cybersecurity Measures

In response to the growing cybercrime epidemic, President Mirziyoyev has issued a presidential decree mandating official ministries and departments to develop and implement uniform cybersecurity requirements for all electronic payment systems. This decree comes on the heels of a Presidential Decree signed in November aimed at combating crimes in the IT sector.

Key Takeaways from the Presidential Decree

Official ministries and departments must develop and implement uniform cybersecurity requirements for all electronic payment systems
Strict monitoring and enforcement of these new regulations is essential to prevent further attacks
The government is under pressure to ensure citizens’ financial data is protected

Ambitious Targets for Uzbekistan’s IT Sector

Uzbekistan has set ambitious targets for its IT sector, including:

Increasing the volume of IT services to 20 trillion soums
Exporting US$800 million worth of IT services
Implementing 130 information systems online
Complete digitalization of 750 government services

Conclusion

As concerns about cybercrime continue to mount, authorities in Uzbekistan are under growing pressure to take swift action to protect citizens’ financial data and prevent further attacks. The government’s efforts to enhance cybersecurity measures and develop the IT sector are crucial steps towards achieving this goal.