Cyber safety
WHILE the state’s proposal to create a Cybersecurity and Social Media Awareness Council envisages needed interventions to protect children from online harm, the same body’s focus on ‘fake news’ — as described by the government — is cause for concern. Speaking at a recent seminar in Islamabad, the federal information minister said there is a need to raise awareness about the “dangers of fake…
The Pakistani government has proposed establishing a Cybersecurity and Social Media Awareness Council to safeguard children from online dangers. However, emphasizing "fake news" within this mandate raises concerns. During a seminar, the federal information minister highlighted raising awareness about "the dangers of fake news" alongside the need for digital education in schools and colleges.
Children, particularly, require protection from cyberattacks, as evidenced by a Unicef report which states that one in 16 children aged 12-17 in Pakistan experienced "at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse" in a single year, translating to around 1.5 million children. The National Commission on the Rights of the Child further warns of children's vulnerability to "cyberbullying, online grooming, sharing of sexual abuse materials" and other forms of harm.
Incidents involving parents and guardians in the online abuse of children are also troubling. It is crucial to shield youngsters from online predators through digital literacy while holding perpetrators accountable. However, integrating efforts against cyberbullying and online child abuse with the campaign against "fake news" requires reconsideration.
Pakistan's freedom of expression is already constrained; hence, any additional attempts to suppress free speech should be opposed. The proposed council should prioritize protecting children from cyber threats and ensuring overall safety in the online realm.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
