Safer Internet Day, held annually on the second day of the second week of the second month of each year, is being marked today, 7 February 2012. The day is organised by the European Internet Safety Network (INSAFE), a network of centres promoting safe use of the Internet, supported by the European Commission (EC), with the aim of raising awareness about safer use of the Internet by citizens.
This year's theme is 'connecting generations' and the slogan is 'Discover the Internet together...safely!'. As in previous years Safer Internet Day will see celebrations across more than 70 countries, with local, national and international events, as part of an overall drive to promote a safer Internet for children and young people.
In Portugal, the activities are being led by the Projeto Internet Segura (Safer Internet Project), coordinated by UMIC - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (Knowledge Society Agency) and also involving DGIDC - Direcção-Geral de Inovação e Desenvolvimento Curricular (Directorate-General for Curriculum Innovation and Development), FCCN - Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (Foundation for National Scientific Computing), FDTI - Fundação para a Divulgação das Tecnologias de Informação (Foundation for the Dissemination of Information Technology) and Microsoft Portugal. More than 500 activities will take place between 6 and 18 February in various parts of the country, aiming to inform and raise awareness among various population groups in addition to children and young people, particularly elderly people and people with special needs. Several activities will also take place aimed at parents and teachers, providing guidance on how to safely enjoy the great opportunities offered by the Internet.
Keeping children safe online is a key part of the Digital Agenda for Europe project. In this respect, in December 2011, the EC convened a coalition of twenty-eight leading companies with a commitment to achieving a better and safer Internet for children - three other companies joined the coalition in January 2012. Together, these companies are committed to implementing five priority actions which include: simple tools for users to report harmful content and contact, age-appropriate privacy settings, wider use of content classification, wider availability and use of parental controls, effective take down of child abuse material. These priorities are aimed at responding to the needs of a generation which is entering the online world at an increasingly early age. In addition to coordinating industry efforts, the EC will present a comprehensive strategy for a safer Internet for children in the spring of 2012.
Further information:
- Digital Agenda: Safer Internet Day 2012, linking up generations for a safer digital world http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/67&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Safer Internet Day 2012, 7 February - Insafe http://www.saferinternet.org/web/guest/safer-internet-day
- InternetSegura.pt - Comemorações do Dia Europeu da Internet Segura 2012: 7 de Fevereiro de 2012 http://www.internetsegura.pt/pt-PT/Noticias/comunicacos/ContentDetail.aspx?id=425
- Rede de Espaços Internet - Celebração do Dia Europeu da Internet Segura - 6 a 18 de Fevereiro de 2012 http://www.rededeespacosinternet.pt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1036&Itemid=43
- Dia da Internet Segura - Semana Seguranet 2012 http://www.seguranet.pt/semana2012
