Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Riyadh will host the Information Technology and National Security Conference (ITNSC), which is organized by the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency (GIP). The event is the first such general conference to be organized by GIP since its foundation 50 years ago.

The Four day conference (1-4 Dec. 2007) will take place at King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh. The center host as well an accompanying specialized exhibition for local and international IT providers.

GIP President HRH Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz says the conference will enable researchers to meet and discuss the issues of utilizing and using modern IT in security fields. Discussions will include the impact of the Internet on the security of societies, protecting the society against suspicious websites, information crimes, the role of information technology in combating money laundering, protecting bank sites, information networks, Prince Muqrin added.

In a speech he made upon the launch of the Conference website (www.itns.org.sa) Prince Muqrin said GIP, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been established to safeguard development and ensure security for all citizens and residents.

GIP endeavors through the conference to strengthen its relations with researchers in the field of modern IT. Other goals include enriching research and knowledge relative to IT and national security and providing GIP and security personnel with the latest technical applications in the field of IT. A host of highly specialized IT and national security scholars, researchers and experts has been invited from inside and outside the Kingdom to take part in the conference.

A number of issues covering some important areas of IT and national security are on the conference agenda, which aims at encouraging nationalization of modern technology. Other major goals also include strengthening the relationships between the security organizations and researchers in the fields of IT and telecommunications, looking into the effects of the developments in the fields of information technology and telecommunications on national security, and equipping workers at security organizations with the latest innovations and developments in the field of security IT.

The topics to be discussed lie under five major titles, namely the role of IT in promoting social security, the role of IT in promoting economic security, the role of IT in promoting political security, IT in the service of security personnel, and applications of modern IT in the field of national security.

The GIP Deputy President and Director General of the Information Technology and National Security Conference (ITNSC) HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz had earlier this year discussed the conference agenda with a group of leading Saudi Intellectuals and media personalities. Prince Abduzaziz revealed during the discussion that the GIP has established a new strategy for developing its work from both informational and practical points of view and that the conference comes within the context of this new strategy for opening contacts with media people and Saudi intellectuals.

In a separate occasion, Prince Abdulaziz honored The sponsors and confirmed that GIP is "considering introduction of new developments to its works, especially with regard to adopting an electronic environment in all its sectors".

The conference website contains full- fledged details on the conference, including its topics, workshops, and registration procedures. It also contains information on Saudi Arabia, news, live TV coverage, and information relative to the main themes of the conference.