Question: Why is a safe Internet important?
I’ve spent ten or so years of my professional career in the business of pioneering online safety and nearly 30 years advocating consumer safety. I’ve written books and created software all focused on educating, creating, and managing online safety for every age group. I work extensively with educators, local, state, national and international law enforcement agencies, and with government organizations in the U.S. and around the world on internet safety legislation. I suppose you could say that I live, eat, sleep, and breathe online safety…but none of those things are the reason why I think a safe Internet is so important.
The reason I think a safe Internet is so important is because in just the past week I have read the following stories:
- The Boston Globe “R.I official takes aim at Craigslist killer”
- The Modesto Bee “Sexting: How parents can keep kids safe”
- Portal IT “Facebook Under Phishing Fire”
- Otago Daily Times “Teens lax over online security”
- ChannelWeb “Phishing Attacks Exploit Swine Flu Scare”
Five different stories, in five different geographic locations, about five different types of online safety issues, and there’s still no solid solution to any of them. The reason I think a safe Internet is important is because it is the ONLY solution to these five different stories, in five different geographic locations, about five different types of online safety issues. A safe internet requires better education for consumers. Stronger infrastructure to defend against exploits, and increased enforcement within families, services, and in the courts to hold the bad actors accountable.
Linda Criddle
President, Safe Internet Alliance
The Internet provides
The Internet provides resources, opportunities, and information that contemporary culture has learned to rely on, but it can still be dangerous terrain for the unwary. -Randall Alifano