Making the Net safe for families Wednesday, 08 February 2012 03:59

DOHA: A multi-stakeholder group that will spearhead a nationwide awareness drive to help create a safer online environment in Qatar especially focusing on families and school children was launched yesterday in time for the global celebration of “Safer Internet Day”.

The National Committee for Internet Safety (NCIS) which was formed in coordination with ictQatar will vigorously initiate raising awareness about cyber safety and improving online safety education.

Aside from ictQatar, other stakeholders of NCIS include representatives from the government, key industries, law enforcement, academia, non-governmental organisations, parents and local youth.

The Committee will work to commission research around Internet safety, offer support to organisations and individuals and identify specific solutions to a range of Internet safety issues.

NCIS committee member Fatma Ali Al Noaimi, Cyber Safety Section Manager at ictQatar, said in a media briefing yesterday that 12 schools in Qatar have become pilot areas for seminars to teach students on the importance safe Internet usage for a progressive nationhood.

The Committee will also participate in the upcoming QITCOM 2012 next month to showcase their initiatives to the delegates of the annual ICT conference.

“The NCIS will bring a multi-stakeholder approach to creating a safer online environment here and will focus on creating digitally literate individuals who are empowered to make the right decisions for themselves and their families when using the Internet,” Al Noaimi said.

Eric Priezkalns, Director of Risk Management at Qtel, said the creation of NCIS was timely since it came at a time that Qatar is undergoing transformation when the government and private sector are investing heavily on next generation communication technology such as fibre broadband and soon Long Term Evolution on mobile Internet.

“It is important to look ahead and work on collaboration for a safer online environment now that the country is gearing to be the leader in the degree of access that will also have the edge content-wise,” Priezkalns said.

Three working committees would focus their initial efforts on different aspects: First on family issues, specifically building awareness among children and parents; second will examine content management, focusing on how the content industry can help support online safety and the third examines Internet safety from the legal perspective, offering guidance and recommendations on any legislation or policies that could be adopted to enhance cyber safety in the country.

The organisations that have representative members on the NCIS include ictQatar, Q-CERT, the Ministry of Awqaf, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Family Consulting  Center, the Supreme Education Council, Qtel, Vodafone Qatar, The Peninsula, Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development, Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, Qatar Foundation for Child and Women Protection, Social Rehabilitation Centre, Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar and Qatar University.

The Peninsula

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