DCO Warns of Rising Digital Threats During Crises

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The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has launched a new report urging coordinated international action to strengthen the security and resilience of civilian digital ecosystems amid growing global digital threats during crises.

The report, titled “Civilian Digital Ecosystems at the Core: Safeguarding During Crisis,” was released as part of the organization’s efforts to promote international digital cooperation and support the development of trusted, resilient, and people-centered digital systems.

The report highlights increasing risks facing civilian digital ecosystems during emergencies, including the spread of misleading and AI-generated content, impersonation of official communication channels, cyberattacks targeting digital infrastructure, and manipulation of emergency-related information.

According to the DCO, the report provides a practical framework aimed at strengthening the resilience, continuity, and trustworthiness of civilian digital systems and services relied upon daily by millions of people worldwide.

The organization stressed that protecting civilians has long been a key responsibility under international law and that this obligation must now extend into the digital sphere due to the increasing dependence on digital infrastructure and services.

The report was designed as a reference for governments, international organizations, businesses, academic institutions, digital platforms, and civil society groups, encouraging collective action and stronger international cooperation to safeguard civilian digital ecosystems.

Commenting on the launch, Deemah AlYahya said crises today extend beyond physical borders into digital systems that support everyday civilian life.

She noted that protecting civilian digital ecosystems is no longer only a technical issue but has become a societal and developmental necessity requiring urgent and coordinated action.

AlYahya added that the report offers governments and stakeholders a practical roadmap to move from fragmented responses toward coordinated efforts aimed at protecting the continuity, integrity, and trustworthiness of digital systems.

The DCO also called on governments and stakeholders to build on the report’s findings and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting members and partners through policy guidance, digital initiatives, and data-driven tools, including the Digital Economy Navigator (DEN).