Colombia’s vice defense minister Alejandro Arbelaez wants to work with the National Registry to prevent potential cyber-terrorist attacks by hackers on presidential candidates.
“We are working on greater security in cyberspace, and the Registry needs to take action to prevent virtual terrorist attacks like those they say happened in past elections,” Arbelaez said Monday.
Arbelaez said a Center for Command and Control is being created, which will monitor, evade and track possible cyber-terrorist attacks. The center will receive support from the Organization of American States.
“We have to guarantee security on national territory, and also peace of mind in cyber-space,” the vice minister said.
Arbelaez’ annoucement follows the hacking of presidential candidate Gustavo Petro‘s campaign website last month, and death threats made via Facebook against the Green Party’s Antanas Mockus.
Colombians will head to the poll booths May 30 to elect their next president.