Deployment Guide/Internet Safety training

11. Internet safety training

Like most things in life, there are good and bad elements of the Internet. Considering that we are introducing many children, we have a responsibility to introduce internet safety as part of OLPC deployments.

There are many Internet-safety programs that have been developed around the world; most likely, there is one in your own country. These programs are open developed in collaboration with local authorities such as police, church groups, and industry groups.

One program that has won international awards is Netsafe in New Zealand. (Please add links to additional programs on the Talk:Deployment_Guide/Internet_Safety_training discussion page.)

A sustainable cyber-safety program typically has four elements: technology, policy, education, and support.

Technology

Content filtering, while of limited utility, can protect children from exposure to harmful content. (Rules for the filters can be set to match local cultural norms.) Many new users of email may fall for basic scams; it is worth employing content and SPAM filters. Material on anti-virus and malware protection are also relevant technologies. (For Linux-based systems, see the Bitfrost specification for a discussion built-in security model.)

Policy/regulation

This is an interesting challenge. The work that has gone into updating laws to consider the impact of technology is incredible. Many nations might not have the appropriate legal capacity and infrastructure for a digital age. The project will provide a summary document that outlines all the areas technology challenges the legal system – so that they can review their own laws.

Education

The program will consider the formal and informal aspects of education on cyber safety. Formal educational materials can be delivered through schools; informal educational materials can be delivered through the media, presentations to parent groups, etc. The formal material may be structured around a Cyber-citizenship Pathway. There will be lessons designed to engage young people to develop their own understanding of the environment – rather than project ours onto them. The aim is that they will come to a similar conclusion to us – but the learning is much more powerful. All this material will be available on the web – so it will be available to anybody. Some localization to fit local issues and cultures will be possible. There will be training for the people who are going to deliver it to ensure it was fully understood and delivered as well as possible.

Support

When issues arise, who do the users turn to for advice, assistance, and support? (In New Zealand, this is NetSafe, but who do you call if you’ve been scammed, cyber-bullied, etc. other nations?) In each country, a resource must be identified and systems set up and promoted to the population. The program will assist the development of appropriate support systems.