The event titled “The Digital Key to the Digital World: Strong Authentication,” organized by ICT Media, was hosted by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority. Speaking at the event, Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, stated that developments in information technologies have brought privacy and security issues along with the digitalization of identity.
At the event where informatics applications such as identity verification and electronic signatures were discussed, BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu said, “Institutions are forced to take certain steps to prevent the theft of data obtained in digital environments and its use for different purposes. Cyber attacks are increasing in parallel with technological developments. While cyber attacks cost the world 8 trillion dollars in 2023, this figure is expected to rise to 9.5 trillion in 2024 and 10.5 trillion in 2025.”
Stating that identity verification systems and password-based authentication methods used for accessing services are becoming increasingly insufficient, Karagözoğlu said, “Although passwords are a basic tool to protect users' accounts, it is a known fact that they pose security risks due to issues such as weak passwords, repeated use, and phishing attacks. With the acceleration of transformation, digital security elements such as identity verification and electronic signatures have gained even more importance.”
Karagözoğlu stated, “Electronic signatures ensure that documents and transactions are carried out securely in digital environments, while identity verification provides secure access for users to digital platforms. Therefore, the development and widespread adoption of electronic identity verification and secure electronic signature systems form one of the cornerstones of ensuring security in the digital world.”
President Karagözoğlu: Our Common Goal is to Be Secure in Electronic Environments and to Conduct Our Transactions Securely
Stating that they continue their efforts to increase cyber security in digital environments, Karagözoğlu said, “As the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, we have imposed obligations on operators or service providers regarding the verification of the applicant's identity through regulations issued for sectors such as ‘Electronic Communications,’ ‘Electronic Signature,’ and ‘Registered Electronic Mail’ within our field of duty. At this point, we are determinedly striving to develop and widespread strong identity verification systems. Especially for secure identity verification in e-government applications and other digital platforms, we are working with all our might to strengthen the technological infrastructure and increase users' cyber security in digital environments.”
Karagözoğlu said, “According to the BTK Third Quarter Market Data Report, as of the end of September 2023, there are 8 authorized electronic certificate service providers in our country, and the total number of certificates they have issued is approximately 7.1 million electronic signatures and 936 thousand mobile signatures, reaching 8.1 million in total. In the third quarter of 2023, there was a 3.5% increase in the number of electronic signatures and a 3.7% increase in mobile signatures compared to the previous period. These figures demonstrate how widespread digital identity and secure electronic transactions have become.”
Emphasizing the importance of developing domestic and national systems in the field of secure identity verification, Karagözoğlu concluded his speech by saying, “The use of domestic and national products is now an urgent need to minimize national security risks and reduce external dependency. In this regard, the development of domestic and national products is of vital importance for reliability and sustainability nationwide.”