Digital transformation brings risks alongside benefits, UN expert warns

Digital transformation can bring with it certain risks which can already be seen, Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), told an event themed "Paperless Government: Environmental Impact of Digitalization and Innovation" held in Baku as part of the "29 Climate Conversations: The Road to COP29," Report informs.

"Our world is still hybrid, and it will continue to be so," Aquaro noted. "One of the key issues is ensuring that the digital transformation across various sectors remains people-centric."

He emphasized that the primary risks associated with digital transformation revolve around data security, as individuals become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. "Timely implementation of cybersecurity measures is of utmost importance," he stressed.

Another significant risk highlighted by Aquaro is system failure, which can lead to data loss. "We must work on robust recovery plans in a healthy manner, and these activities should be carried out in parallel. First of all, a certain balance must be found. The use of modern technologies has become widespread today. We observe this in different age categories of the society. Children use such smartphones. These risks should be carefully analyzed," he stressed.

Aquaro also raised concerns about the potential displacement of jobs by robots, which could ultimately result in significant job losses. "We must actively work on creating new job opportunities by leveraging emerging possibilities to mitigate this risk," he urged.