Key Strategic Programs during the Current Phase (2017-2021) 1 Program to develop the appropriate legislative framework to secure cyberspace, combat cybercrimes and protect privacy and digital identity: 2 3 Program to protect the digital identity (Digital Citizenship Program), to improve the infrastructure necessary to establish trust in e-transactions in general, and in e-government services in particular: Program to develop an integrated national system for protecting cyberspace and securing ICT infrastructure: 4 5 Program to support scientific research and development and cybersecurity industry development Program to prepare human calibers and expertise necessary to implement the cybersecurity system in various sectors: 6 Program to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits offered by e-services to individuals, institutions and government agencies, and of the importance of cybersecurity to protect these services from risks and challenges. 1- Program to develop the appropriate legislative framework to secure cyberspace, combat cybercrimes and protect privacy and digital identity: The program is to be implemented in cooperation with key stakeholders and experts from the government, private sector, academia and CSOs, guided by relevant international expertise, experiences and programs, and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security, recently adopted by the African Union (AU) Executive Council. A vacuum in cybercrime legislation may have serious consequences on e-transactions and e-services. The “Principle Of Legality in the Criminal Law and Penal Code”— one of the most fundamental principles—states that only the law can define a crime and prescribe a penalty, which restricts the application of penal provisions and the criminalization of acts that current legislation doesn’t define or prescribe appropriate punishment for them. Thus, states should keep abreast with developments and draft new and appropriate legislative rules to counter such contemporary crimes that threaten security of and trust in e-transactions. 12 2- Program to develop an integrated national system for protecting cyberspace and securing ICT infrastructure: The program aims to prepare Computer Emergency Response (or Readiness) Teams (CERTs) or Computer Security Incidents Response Teams (CSIRTs), in the critical sectors at the national level, based on the pioneering experience of the ICT sector. CERTs and CSIRTs are responsible for monitoring security of national communications and information networks and connected computers, addressing any cyberthreats or cyberattacks directed against them, raising awareness and strengthening readiness to confront any cyberattacks. 3- Program to protect the digital identity (Digital Citizenship Program), to improve the infrastructure necessary to establish trust in e-transactions in general, and in e-government services in particular: This program includes the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), on which the e-signature is based. e-Signature is regulated and supervised by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), through ITIDA- Egyptian Root Certificate Authority (Root CA), the Government Electronic Certification Authority (Gov-CA) operated by the Ministry of Finance, and other companies licensed by ITIDA to provide e-signature services. The program is based on the formation of a supreme committee for digital citizenship, aiming to prepare a strategic vision—at the national level— for digital citizenship and an action plan to transform the concept of digital citizenship into reality. It also aims to launch national projects aimed at using expanding applications that support facilitating and securing e-transactions relying on the PKI infrastructure. 4- Program to prepare human calibers and expertise necessary to implement the cybersecurity system in various sectors: The program is to be implemented in cooperation and partnership between governmental entities, the private sector, universities and CSOs, based on the leading experience carried out by the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA). 13