Shermatov does not confirm data leak of 27 million Uzbek residents

According to the minister, the fact that the data has not spread further yet guarantees nothing for the future. He believes that investments in artificial intelligence must be accompanied by spending on protection against associated threats: "If such expenses are considered non-core for AI development, the risks will only grow."

The Butterfly group, described as "ethical hackers," earlier disclosed Shermatov's phone number and PINFL and threatened to post data on more than 27 million residents on the dark web. The group later stated that it had not hacked or leaked anything, but merely wanted to demonstrate the possibility of such an event, and reproached cybersecurity specialists from state agencies for inaction.

Shermatov pointed out that AI has made it easier to find vulnerabilities in outdated information systems: according to data he published from 2020 onward (a chart prepared by Gemini), the number of identified vulnerabilities has increased severalfold. He urged state, non-state, and commercial organizations to constantly search for and promptly patch weak spots, allocate additional funds for cyber defence, train personnel, and track reports on new vulnerabilities from the State Security Service's Cybersecurity Centre and the UzCERT service.

As an example, the minister mentioned the recent hack of the Binance crypto exchange; as Kursiv writes, the exchange confirmed that the October 29 attack affected digital assets worth approximately $6.34 billion. Shermatov expects growing demand for cybersecurity specialists and named universities developing this area: Cyber University, TUIT, INHA, Amity, and Acharya.