U.S. and Uruguay join efforts against cybercrime

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “Cyberattacks not only impact critical healthcare, transportation or water infrastructures, they can also affect supply chains for common products. They all have a common denominator: anyone can be a victim. The key is to improve our cybersecurity every day,” the Organization of American States (OAS) says on Twitter.

On December 1 and 2, 2021, experts from the Uruguayan Chambers of Information Technology and Digital Economy; and the embassies of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union in Uruguay, shared intelligence and expertise in cybersecurity with Uruguayan governmental and private entities, through the digital seminar The Future is Here: Cybersecurity Opportunities and Challenges, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

Participants reviewed cyber systems to implement security in cities, critical infrastructure, public surveillance while respecting privacy and civil freedoms, and methods of detecting and reacting to threats and attacks.

In addition, they implemented international cooperation mechanisms such as the 24/7 Cybercrime Network, to ensure swift international cooperation to prosecute these crimes, the U.S. Embassy stated. Over 60 countries are involved in the international network.

“The United States’ best assistance is to help its allies and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean develop their cyber capabilities,” said Florida International University professor Alex Crowther to the U.S. NGO Atlantic Council after Microsoft on December 6 reported that a group of Chinese hackers called NICKEL is targeting large public and private sectors in Latin America.

Ahead of the seminar on October 25, a team of military experts from the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the Ministry of Defense and Uruguay’s Ministry of Interior joined efforts against cyberspace threats, the U.S. Embassy to Uruguay said in a statement.

“Global economic losses from cybercrimes exceeded US$1 trillion in 2020 and continue to rise. It is estimated that they will cost nations over US$5 trillion in 2021,” the U.S. Embassy said.