The ITU is taking the lead in the drive against counterfeit and substandard ICT devices.
Experts representing the industry, governments, regulatory authorities, international organizations and standards bodies will participate in the discussions to be held at ITU headquarters in Geneva in November to tackle the global challenges posed by fake devices.
A focus of the event will be to examine the role of ICT innovations such as big data, cloud computing, identity management and the Internet of Things in tracing counterfeit goods and identifying their origins.
Counterfeiting and non-conformance with international standards have motivated the initiation of a range of counteractive strategies at the international, regional and national level. By leveraging its public-private membership base and longstanding experience in the ICT industry, ITU hopes to bring greater clarity and coordination to the role that ICTs play in executing these strategies.
“Consumers rely on brand names and international standards to provide an assurance of quality, and this assurance is relevant to consumers in developed and developing countries alike,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré.
“Counterfeit and substandard ICT products demand international action. Such products raise the risk of network disruptions and interoperability challenges that result in poor quality of service, with potentially dire consequences in emergency situations. They also pose major risks to consumers’ health and safety and that of our environment, especially related to the disposal of e-waste from such products.”