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Safer Internet Day partners work to combat rising internet harms

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(Last Updated On: February 10, 2015)

Nineteen organisations have joined forces to mark today’s Safer Internet Day in New Zealand as Kiwis report an increasing array of internet harms, reports organiser NetSafe.

Safer Internet Day is celebrated worldwide to encourage the safe and positive use of the internet and digital technologies, especially among families and young people. In 2015, 19 organisations that work with Kiwi internet users across the country are coming together to celebrate the day, promoting digital safety and security messages to customers, staff and stakeholders.

“Safer Internet Day is about pausing to celebrate the positive work that is going on every dayall around New Zealand. This global initiative highlights how creating a safer internet is a shared responsibility and we’re pleased to have so many organisations supporting the event in New Zealand,” said Martin Cocker, NetSafe’s Executive Director.

Digital Challenges Report
To mark Safer Internet Day, NetSafe has published a report on the full range of online challenges that New Zealanders faced in 2014. The report can be downloaded at http://www.netsafe.org.nz/safer-internet-day/

In 2014, NetSafe handled more than 8,000 incidents and recorded almost
$8m lost to a wide variety of online scams and computer security issues. The report also looks at other harms that Kiwi internet users can suffer including the emotional impact of online harassment and bullying and privacy concerns around the loss of data and identity information.

Highlights from the report include:
● More than one in 10 of the incidents that NetSafe handled in 2014 involved bullying or online harassment and reports were received from young people and adults alike;
● NetSafe recorded over 1,000 privacy related reports during the year;
● The average financial loss reached $9300 and more than 30 losses greater than $50,000 were recorded.

2015 Safer Internet Day Supporters:

● Cooperative Bank
● CORE Education
● Department of Internal Affairs
● Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
● Enabling eLearning programme
● Facebook
● Google
● Ministry of Education
● NetSafe
● Network for Learning (N4L)
● NZ Police
● NZ Catholic Education Office
● NZ Principals’ Federation
● Office of the Children’s Commissioner
● Post Primary Teachers’ Association
● Te Toi Tupu
● Trade Me
● Twitter
● Vodafone

You can read more about Safer Internet Day at http://www.netsafe.org.nz/safer-internet-day/
and follow activities that will take place around the world using the Twitter hashtag # SID2015.

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