MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS The growing use of telecommunications and ICT has been parallel to a considerable increase of users exposed to criminal activities and risks related to data security, as well as equipment’s intrusion and interruption. According to the Cybersecurity Report 2016 issued by OAS and the Inter-American Development Bank, “… cybercrime has a world cost of up to US$575,000 million per year; this represents 0.5% of global GDP”3. Meanwhile, the same report indicates that for Latin America and the Caribbean, this type of crimes has an approximate cost of US$90,000 million per year4. Furthermore, the Connectivity Index or, Networked Readiness Index (NRI)5 from the World Economic Forum, 2016, Costa Rica is at position 44 only surpassed by Chile (38th position) and Uruguay (43th position) of Latin American countries. In addition, Costa Rica h e a ds the exports o f value-added services in Latin America, which includes: telecommunications, information and other services. The foregoing represents 6.8% of GDP according to 2015 statistics, Honduras in second place (1.5% of GDP)6. According to data presented on the National Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Report, Costa Rica 2014 “The weight of ICT exports as regards export of the country’s total goods, shows this sector is highly important. The 2006- 2014 period, it represented over 41% and in 2014, 56.6%, of the country’s total exports.”7 3 BID-OEA. (2016). Cybersecurity Report 2016. Idem. 5 This index measures “…the propensitu of countries t o t ake thes opportunities offered by information and communications technologies. It is published every year and seeks to better understand the impact of ICT on the competitiveness of nations”. Available at http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GITR2016/WEF_GITR_Chapter1.1_2016.pdf 6 Costa Rican Development Initiatives Coalition (CINDE) (2016). Investing on Costa Rica: Services. Costa Rica. CINDE: Costa Rica. Based on data of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, of the International Monetary Fund and Trademark. 7 MICITT (2014).National Indicators Report Science, Technology and Innovation. Available at http://cdns3.myvirtualpaper.com/i/intergraphicdesigns-micitt/indicadores-2014-vp/2016101901/upload/indicadores-2014-vp.pdf 4 - 15 www.micitt.go.cr