The e-Safe Cybersecurity Awards Ceremony, which rewards individuals and institutions contributing to digital security, was held in Ankara. In his speech at the opening of the ceremony, Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, emphasized that cybersecurity is a strategic field that cannot be left to chance.
Emphasizing that cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue, President Karagözoğlu stated that technology produces great benefits when used with the right principles and awareness, but uncontrolled use poses serious risks.
President Karagözoğlu: AI-Supported Attacks Increase the Scale of the Threat
Stating that as of 2025, artificial intelligence has become a determining tool in cybercrimes, President Karagözoğlu said that AI-supported attacks have become faster, more targeted, and more undetectable.
Noting that deepfake applications, AI-generated identity impersonations, seizure of biometric data, and ransomware attacks are among the concrete threats of the new era, President Karagözoğlu pointed out that the economic loss caused by cybercrimes on a global scale is expected to reach 15 trillion dollars in 2026.
President Karagözoğlu: We See Cybersecurity as the Guarantee of Digital Turkey
Stating that as BTK, they act with the awareness of the critical importance of cybersecurity, Karagözoğlu noted that in line with the National Technology Initiative vision, they are working to protect the digital infrastructure, strengthen national capacity, and establish a sustainable security architecture with domestic solutions.
Stating that the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM), developed entirely with domestic and national capabilities, serves as Turkey's shield in cyberspace, Karagözoğlu expressed that today, USOM's activities are continued under the roof of the Cybersecurity Presidency with a stronger institutional structure.
Expressing that they see cybersecurity not only as today's threat but as the guarantee of tomorrow's Digital Turkey, Karagözoğlu pointed to the importance of public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society acting together.
"Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility area," said Karagözoğlu, emphasizing that collaborations with universities are of great importance in terms of training qualified human resources.
At the end of his speech, Karagözoğlu congratulated all institutions and organizations nominated for the E-Safe Cybersecurity Awards, celebrated the winners, and thanked those who contributed to the organization.