Internet security facing increased challenges

Internet security faces increasing challenges, says Suzana Pribilović, the minister of public administration, at the conference titled “Together for safer Internet”. The conference was held at the hotel CentreVille in Podgorica, on 11. 02. 2020.

The minister of public administration, Suzana Pribilović, said that the ministries of public administration, sports and youth and internal affairs signed the agreement on cooperation, titled “Digital literacy and the protection of children and young people on the Internet”, with the Police Department, with the aim to suppress violence and abuse on the Internet.

Pribilović said that the Internet was a reflection of the real world and it posed a risk in terms of abuse, disclosure of personal data and cyber-bullying. “Tomorrow, you will be called to contribute to development of digital society, but I have to remind you that we live in a world where development of new technologies is followed by risks that we all have to be aware of while at the cyber space”, Pribilović said.

She recalled that nearly one million users were being targeted by cyber predators on daily basis. According to her, it was important to adhere to a basic cyber culture that prevented 80% of cyber violence. “You are a generation growing up with the Internet and social networks. You have to be aware of the fact that social networks are not real world and that nobody has the right to threaten you on these platforms”, Pribilović said. The time spent in cyberspace should be an opportunity for growth, for faster and easier communication with the world, rather than place where one does not feel safe. “Even though we, as a competent institution, want to create a digital society, it is our duty to warn you of all the dangers and risks in the online space”, Pribilović said.

Pribilović said that the internet security increases challenges for those who wish to make the Internet a safe place for the users, and especially for the youngest ones. “I invite you to openly talk about all the bad things you have come across in the cyber space and report them to the authorities, because reporting to authorities means making cyber space safer for all of us”, said Pribilović.

The minister of sports and youth affairs, Nikola Janović, said that the online violence became a global threat. “Young people are particularly exposed to global commercialization in regard to contemporary technologies, while parents and community in general does not communicate enough with children and young people”, Janović says.
Janović stresses out that parents can’t provide full protection to their children, because the cyber space knows no time limits. “Social and digital media are the most important communication outlets and they overwhelmingly influence development of young peoples’ identity, their learning abilities, expressing their thoughts and their socialization”, Janović says.

He points out to the fact that social network profiles are far away from realistic picture of someone’s life and it is necessary to teach young people healthy lifestyles as opposed to living a life of false identities. According to him, educating on cyber security should be a key factor in safeguarding children and young people. “Public agencies are to cooperate with all relevant subjects, including young people and their parents with the aim to improve digital literacy and warn of risks the internet communication brings in”, says Janović.
He says that the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs will cooperate with other institutions, meaning all the parties that entered the agreement, with the aim to provide support to young people and their parents to suppress violence and online abuse.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *