Researchers and experts from Azerbaijan’s relevant government agencies, research institutes of ANAS – the National Academy of Sciences – and media representatives explored personal data security issues at a conference on 29 November.

The 5th Republican Conference “Actual Multidisciplinary Scientific and Practical Problems of Information Security” was held at the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was organised by the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS.

Considering that in modern conditions important tasks have been set before the private sector and public organisations, the conference was devoted to the problems of ensuring personal data security. The main objective was to explore and discuss multidisciplinary issues of personal data security, the formation of information security culture in society, and the safe management of personal data.

The President of ANAS, Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev opened the conference and spoke about the rapid development of information technology in Azerbaijan.

Internet infrastructure covers the whole country, in our country, our citizens are actively using various social networks, e-commerce and other services. These factors make personal data protection in our country more relevant”, Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev emphasised. “Personal data protection should be approached as a whole, from the viewpoint of national security, and, above all, citizens should take care of their personal data, know how to handle them, and consider the characteristics of the virtual environment.”

Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev, ANAS, President
Vice President of ANAS, Academician Rasim Alguliyev at the podium with (left to right) Azer Ahadov, Deputy Chief of the State Agency for Special Communications and Information Security of the Special State Protection Service; Iqbal Babayev, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev, President of ANAS; Elmir Valizade, Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies; Aflatun Amashov, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan., ©IIT of ANAS

Vice President of ANAS, Academician Rasim Alguliyev voiced his views on personal data protection, underlining the importance of multidisciplinary research and its socio-psychological, legal, and technological aspects, and the field of personnel training in personal data protection.

The collaboration of government agencies with civil society organisations in ensuring national security of the country is very essential.’’

Academician Rasim Alguliyev, ANAS, Vice President

The conference continued with sessions on ‘Scientific and technological problems of personal data security’, ‘Scientific-humanitarian problems of personal data security’ and ‘Scientific-practical problems of personal data security’.  The sessions included presentations on various topics and possible solutions were put forward to resolve existing information security challenges.