9 Posts in Technology

Launched at the start of 2020 - almost at the same time as the onset of the coronavirus pandemic - the electronic platform has grown to offer more than 1,500 digital services to citizens, including the issuing of digital certificates or legal status and identity documents. It has also expanded into several accompanying smartphone apps, such as a wallet for storing all types of electronic documents, including coronavirus vaccination certificates and the police identification card (taftotita). Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who attended the event, spoke about the Greek State becoming a state which "respects its citizens, and builds a relationship with them based on trust." He added that the transition to digital governance "happens to enjoy universal recognition in Greece." The coronavirus pandemic acted as a catalyst in launching gov.gr as swiftly as was feasible, he said, while he spoke of the introduction of more advanced technologies like AI to facilitate vaccination appointments. Αddressing the event, Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said that through gov.gr there were 1.2 billion online transactions in 2020, the pandemic's first year. Outlining the ministry's unrolling of digitised and automated services, Pierrakakis noted that universal access to the European emergency number 112 "was given first priority," while the 13033 text messaging number provided permits for leaving one's home during the long pandemic lockdowns. Fascimile technology was finally abolished in the public sector, replaced with online issuing of documents and certificates to people, such as birth certificates, which were also simplified. In addition, doctors' prescriptions were all moved online and issued electronically. Finally, Pierrakakis also spoke of the unfolding installation of fiber optic lines for internet access across the country. There are currently 1.3 million fiber optic lines, he said, and the goal is to reach 4.8 million by 2027. The digitisation of government services "is an across-the-board policy that affects all ministries, and is an acquisition of the entire public administration," he noted. European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, responsible for digital issues, acclaimed Greece for moving fast to use technology in ways that improve the daily life of Greek citizens, who should be technology's focus anyway. The progress achieved was encouraging for other EU countries as well, she added.

Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for digital policy, told the billionaire Tesla CEO that the social media platform will have to significantly increase efforts to comply with the new rules , known as the Digital Services Act, set to take effect next year. The two held a video call to discuss Twitter’s preparedness for the law, which will require tech companies to better police their platforms for material that, for instance, promotes terrorism, child sexual abuse, hate speech and commercial scams. It’s part of a new digital rulebook that has made Europe the global leader in the push to rein in the power of social media companies, potentially setting up a clash with Musk’s vision for a more unfettered Twitter. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also said Wednesday that an investigation into Musk’s $44 billion purchase was not off the table Breton said he was pleased to hear that Musk considers the EU rules “a sensible approach to implement on a worldwide basis.” “But let’s also be clear that there is still huge work ahead,” Musk said, according to a readout of the call released by Breton’s office. “Twitter will have to implement transparent user policies, significantly reinforce content moderation and protect freedom of speech, tackle disinformation with resolve, and limit targeted advertising.” After Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” bought Twitter a month ago, groups that monitor the platform for racist, antisemitic and other toxic speech, such the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, say it’s been on the rise on the world’s de facto digital public square. Musk has signaled an interest in rolling back many of Twitter’s previous rules meant to combat misinformation, most recently by abandoning enforcement of its COVID-19 misinformation policy. He already reinstated some high-profile accounts that had violated Twitter’s content rules and had promised a “general amnesty” restoring most suspended accounts starting this week. Twitter didn’t respond to an email request for comment. In a separate blog post Wednesday, the company said “human safety” is its top priority and that its trust and safety team “continues its diligent work to keep the platform safe from hateful conduct, abusive behavior, and any violation of Twitter’s rules.” Musk, however, has laid off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce , along with an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Many others have resigned , including the company’s head of trust and safety. In the call Wednesday, Musk agreed to let the EU’s executive Commission carry out a “stress test” at Twitter’s headquarters early next year to help the platform comply with the new rules ahead of schedule, the readout said.

The outage includes services such as Taxisnet and e-EFKA. The ministry emphasized that every effort will be put forth to finish the work ahead of schedule in order to minimize the impact on citizens.

On the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on Tuesday. Mitsotakis briefed Kerry on preparations for “Our Ocean Conference” – an initiative started by the US official – to be held in 2024 in Greece, as well as the country’s support for the “Green Shipping Challenge,” presented by the US and Norway. He also welcomed US initiatives for the reduction of shipping’s energy footprint. [Dimitris Papamitsos/Prime Minister’s Office]

The Athens Science Festival, the festival devoted to Science and Innovation since 2014, is an established cultural landmark in the field of Science, Technology, Innovation and Art in Greece! This event allows residents and schools in and around Attica have the opportunity to explore scientific and technological advancements in an entertaining, innovative and interactive manner. At the same time, researchers, distinguished scientists, educators and artists give their best to communicate science and indulge the visitors to participate in their experience with it. Since its introduction to the people of Athens in 2014, Athens Science Festival has collaborated with more than 6,000 scientific associates, 730 speakers, 350 artists and 1,800 volunteers. The Festival is repeatedly justifying its social impact having exceeded initial expectations and having reached out to more than 120,000 visitors over the past 6 years. As such, the Athens Science Festival is righteously considered as one of the largest science and technology festivals in Greece. Every year the Athens Science Festival keeps its promise: it links our everyday life to science and highlights the important role of science and technology in the society; by presenting and demonstrating high quality scientific research conducted in Greek academic institutions, by providing dialogue platforms where we can explore insights to complex and controversial scientific issues, by inspiring and creating high standards in the field of science communication and by encouraging young people to consider a science related career. Last but not least, the Athens Science Festival has managed to continuously show to people of all backgrounds and age that science is not only about knowledge but can also be recreational and fun. The Athens Science Festival is organized annually by the educational organisation “Science Communication – SciCo”, the British Council and the Technopolis of the City of Athens with the invaluable contribution from a plethora of academics, research and educational institutions. The festival is conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Development and Investments and the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation. The theme of this year’s Athens Science Festival is “foresight,” as it seeks to explore the challenges that lie ahead and ways to address them with exciting new discoveries. For details concerning the roster of speakers and all the different events, visit athens-science-festival.gr.

Last month, Greek lawmakers voted in favor of setting up an inquiry commission to probe the phone tapping of a political opposition leader that led Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to sack the head of the country's intelligence service (EYP). The scandal over the wiretapping of Nikos Androulakis, leader of the socialist PASOK party, Greece's third-largest political party, has turned up the heat on the conservative premier who brought EYP under his control after taking office 3 years ago. On Friday, Christos Spirtzis, a former minister and close associate of SYRIZA party leader Alexis Tsipras, said that last November 2 attempts to hack his phone were made via suspicious text messages prompting him to click on links. "Running through a series of text messages I had received in the past, I spotted 6 that looked suspicious and turned to telecoms experts who told me two were Predator-related. This led me to file the complaint," Spirtzis told Reuters. He told reporters the second text message he had been sent was the same one sent to a journalist and to Androulakis. "These 3 SMSes were sent by the same center... either directly or via third parties," he said outside the Supreme Court. "How many more lawmakers, politicians and journalists did you phone tap, Mr. Mitsotakis?" Spirtzis asked, addressing reporters outside the court. The government dismissed Spirtzis's move as a "cheap show" and said it was a "diabolical coincidence" he had decided to file his complaint on the same day Mitsotakis was travelling to Thessaloniki for an annual economic address. Mitsotakis, who must hold elections by next June at the latest, has said that the phone tapping of opposition leader Androulakis by the EYP intelligence service was a legal but "politically unacceptable" operation. "The problem with malware that tap mobile phones came to the forefront 5 years ago. It is global and we must find effective counter measures to this threat," government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said.

Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed in May on the main terms of a planned joint venture to build a data cable, the so-called "East to Med data Corridor", which will be developed by MENA HUB, owned by Saudi Arabia's STC and Greek telecoms and satellite applications company TTSA. The agreement was finalized during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Athens, his first to a European Union member state since the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Prince Mohammed's last official visit outside the Middle East was to Japan in 2019 for a G20 summit. "Linking the grid of electricity ... we can provide Greece and Southwest Europe through Greece with much cheaper renewable energy," Prince Mohammed said, sitting alongside Mitsotakis. Bilateral agreements were also signed in the fields of energy and military cooperation, among others. Mitsotakis hailed Prince Mohammed's visit as an opportunity to further discuss regional developments and "how to further cement this important relationship between our two countries, placing particular emphasis on economic coooperation." Mitsotakis was among Western leaders who have visited Riyadh since the murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which sparked an outcry in the West and tainted the prince's image as a reformist pushing to open up Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter. France's President Emanuel Macron also visited Riyadh last year and U.S. President Joe Biden met with Prince Mohammed on a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this month as Washington works to ease tension with Riyadh. U.S. intelligence has implicated the prince in the killing of Khashoggi, a charge the prince and Saudi authorities deny. After Greece, Prince Mohammed will head to France.

The Hellenic Foreign Ministry said on Friday, this his first visit to an EU country since the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The ministry said the pair were due to sign bilateral deals, without giving details. A Greek diplomatic source said the deals were in the fields of energy, military cooperation, and an undersea data cable, among others. Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed in May on the main terms to set up a joint venture to lay the data cable that will link Europe with Asia. The "East to Med data Corridor" will be developed by MENA HUB, owned by Saudi Arabia's STC and Greek telecoms and satellite applications company TTSA. read more The visit will be closely watched after the killing of Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul sparked a furor in the West. U.S. intelligence concluded the crown prince directly approved the murder of the Washington Post columnist. The prince denies having any role in the killing. Some Western leaders have since visited Riyadh, including U.S. President Joe Biden last week, who said he confronted Prince Mohammed over the killing. Biden said the crown prince had said he had held those responsible to account. France's President Emanuel Macron and Mitsotakis also visited last year.

But also the promotion of services that use cloud infrastructures are part of Microsoft's immediate plans for the Greek market. The plans include, as is obvious, the creation of the data center hub, which is in the phase of issuing the relevant construction permits, as well as the promotion of actions related to the enhancement of the digital skills of Greek citizens. According to Theodosis Michalopoulos, General Manager of Microsoft for Greece, Cyprus and Malta during yesterday's briefing with media representatives, the data center hub is expected to start operating within the next 3 years with the 3 data centers (data centers) to be located in Spata and Koropi.