NEWS RELEASE

ICT Authority Launches Guide to empower Youth to 'Be Safe in Cyber Space'

Ebène Cybercity: Being online is not synonymous with being anonymous. All online transactions leave an electronic trace or so called Digital Footprint, was the message which rang out today during a conference aimed at empowering Mauritian youth with tips and tools on how to avoid being the victims of cyber crimes or worse unwittingly being a perpetrator of such cyber crimes.

The conference was organised by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

The Minister of Education, Dr Vasant Bunwaree, officially launched a guide entitled 'Be Safe in Cyberspace' published by the ICT Authority. Some six hundred students from sixth form colleges listened attentively to the speakers in the conference room of Cyber Tower 1 at the Ebène Cybercity.

In his address to them, Dr Bunwaree emphasized that ignorance of the law will not serve as an excuse to anyone who commits a cyber crime. Dr Bunwaree added that around the world many of the crimes and misdemeanours committed online are by young people. He welcomed the launch of the guide by the ICT Authority as one more step by the Mauritian authorities to inform young people of the pitfalls of being in cyberspace.

The popularity of the Internet amongst the young, in particular, social networking sites, games and entertainment products and services available online means that there is a pressing need to ensure that young people are aware of the range of measures they can take to stay safe online.

Mr Trilock Dabeesing, the Director of IT of the ICT Authority drew up a list of typical cyber crimes like unauthorized access to confidential information to defamation and cyber bullying. "We all leave a Digital Footprint" in cyber space and there are means to track down cyber criminals as well as laws that provide for punishing anyone found guilty of such crimes, he told those present.

The Executive Director of the ICT Authority, Dr Krishna Oolun explained that in Mauritius a National Cyber Crime Committee has been set up to examine the range of issues pertaining to cyber crime. The members of the committee comprise officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources, the Data Protection Office and the Police IT Unit.

He urged the students present to develop a sense of responsibility whilst online in order to make the most of the powerful learning and infotainment tool that the Internet has become.

Today's conference was organised in the context of the visit to Mauritius of Honourable Justice Rajesh Tandon, the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal of India. As a measure of how seriously the issue of cyber crime is approached in countries like India, Justice Rajesh Tandon has powers to even shut down sites which fall foul of the law or are specifically used to commit crimes such as phishing, that is illegally obtaining personal information like banking details with a view to committing financial and banking fraud.

Presentation by Mr Trilock Dabeesing : Be safe in Cyberspace

25 March 2010