Commitment to safety on the Internet sees Australia commended

Rather than focusing on just the Internet filtering initiative in Australia local organisations should concentrate more on the wider strategy for cybersafety that is in place throughout the country to protect broadband users according to the New Zealand Cybersafety organisation, Netsafe.

New measures that will improve safety over the Internet for everyone who uses the web including families were announced recently by Stephen Conroy, the Australian minister for Communications, Broadband and the Digital economy.

The attention of most people is caught by filtering, which is a system that blocks crime-linked or obscene websites, although when it comes to cleaning up the internet it only play a small role advised Martin Cocker, the chief executive at Netsafe.

Mr Cocker said “Filtering will make people feel safer, but if we actually want to be safer New Zealand needs to boost cyber crime fighting resources, establish a National CERT programme, and increase investment in cybersafety and security education. In this regard, we are now well behind Australia. “In the rush to comment on Australia’s recent cybersafety announcement, local organisations have focused attention almost solely on the introduction of mandatory ISP-level filtering of Refused Classification (RC) content”

He also added “The filtering debate is overshadowing the other areas of the Australian Cybersafety programme, to which New Zealand should be paying more attention.”

Cybersafety awareness, counselling and education programmes will receive funding of $17 million over the next five years according to the recent announcement. The expansion of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) telephone support service, its website and its outreach education will be possible from this funding.

A further 91 Australian educators and federal police officers that deal purely in online fields will also be eligible for this funding said Senator Conroy.

Source – Scoop