Mohamed Al Kuwaiti: AI making cyberattacks more complex, harder to trace

Abu Dhabi: The growing use of artificial intelligence in cyberattacks has added a new layer of complexity to the digital threat landscape, making it increasingly difficult to identify who is behind an attack, Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, has said. Speaking during a session at the Hili Forum titled 'Data, Drones, Digital (Dis) Order', Al Kuwaiti stressed the importance of empowering individuals and strengthening cybersecurity awareness so that society can become the “first line of defence” against growing threats. He said the UAE was working to establish a model based on the safe and secure use of technology, both in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, alongside greater international dialogue, cooperation and partnerships. Al Kuwaiti said technology had brought significant value to the region over the past few years, with the UAE providing an example of how it can be harnessed to drive development and progress. This, he said, was reflected in the country’s performance across a number of global competitiveness indicators. He stressed that adopting technology in a safe and secure manner remained a critical priority, adding that recent crises had demonstrated the importance of cybersecurity as well as the role of cooperation and partnerships between different entities in strengthening the ability to confront risks. Cyber threats becoming more complex Al Kuwaiti said the current threat landscape was no longer limited to conventional cyberattacks. It now encompassed cyber warfare, cybercrime and cyberterrorism, as well as disinformation, misinformation and the misuse of social media — further increasing the complexity of the digital environment. Artificial intelligence, he said, had introduced another element into the equation. In some attacks, it had become difficult to determine whether the source was a state, an entity, an individual or even a community. “That is why, fundamentally, we need to empower our society to be our first line of defence,” he said. Building a culture of cybersecurity Al Kuwaiti said the Cybersecurity Council was working with numerous entities to raise awareness and strengthen a culture of cybersecurity. “Spreading a culture of the proper use of technology is extremely important,” he said, adding that the UAE was implementing a number of initiatives aimed at empowering and supporting society in this area. Building cooperation and partnerships was also a fundamental part of these efforts, he said, alongside developing sustained dialogue in the field of “cyber diplomacy” as an important tool for confronting the cross-border risks created by the new digital environment. Al Kuwaiti said the UAE would continue working towards the safer and more secure use of technology by combining the adoption of emerging technologies with greater public awareness and stronger cooperation with partners locally and internationally.