Lukashenko calls for balanced digitalization, cyber security
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has called for balanced digitalization and cyber security at a meeting in Minsk on 10 November, BelTA has learned.
Speaking about digitalization, the head of state noted that this matter should be approached reasonably and without converting all the information into digital form. “Not because I am a conservative. You are aware that I was the one making decisions on IT when almost no one else in the world was. I made these decisions, and I did so decisively. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves now. And we must not digitize everything,” he said.
The president explained that one should not resort to digitalization where it is possible to manage without it. “Where it is necessary, let’s do it. Where we can do without it, let’s not go there. We will ensure cyber security,” he stressed.
Touching upon cyber security, the head of state suggested keeping some records on paper like before. Such an approach will allow preserving information and preventing leaks. “Let us record some things on paper like it was before. And there’s no need for people to worry too much about personal data, phone number, address, and so on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested.
In this regard, the president also mentioned rational use of mobile phones. It primarily concerns civil servants: “There are no secrets if you have a phone: what you do, where you go… There are no secrets.”
Despite the advancement of mobile communication, the head of state expressed confidence that the landline phone network should be preserved. “Your conversation will certainly not end up on servers in Canada or the USA. Otherwise, your phone lies nearby and intelligence agencies know everything that is going on with you. It doesn’t matter whether it is on or off,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
