ictQATAR Encourages Youth to Take Control of their Privacy Online

New Campaign Stresses that "On the Internet, Your Privacy is Your Responsibility"

For youth, the internet offers an entertaining and informative escape. But too often they forget that the world of the internet has the same risks as the real world. To help raise awareness among youth and parents in Qatar about protecting their privacy online, ictQATAR has launched a new television campaign with the message that "On the Internet, Your Privacy is Your Responsibility."

The television spot takes viewers into the online world and shows that people need to be just as careful online as they are in the real world. In the real world, you wouldn't share your photos with strangers, so why would you online? Likewise, you wouldn't freely share personal information such as your location in the real world, so why do it online?

ictQATAR encourages youth to take advantage of everything available through the internet - and to have fun - but to remember that "On the Internet, Your Privacy is Your Responsibility!"

Watch the Spot (Arabic - English Subtitled):

Keep Children Safe Online, but Don't Let Them Lose Their Curiosity!

ictQATAR Raising Awareness of Need to Think About Cyber Safety

The internet can literally bring the world to your fingertips, but this powerful resource also brings with it some inherent risks. How can children, with their natural wonderment and curiosity, best experience these benefits safely? ictQATAR recently launched its "Keep Them Safe, Keep Them Curious" campaign to begin raising awareness about the need for parents to be involved in their child's online safety and to give some basic tips for how to help be more cyber smart.

In a newly launched commercial airing in cinemas, and on television and radio, a typical Qatari family is seen taking easy, smart steps to help keep their children safe online - all without squashing their curiosity. ictQATAR also has a series of advertisements on Doha's streets and various billboards to help raise awareness.

To help parents and teacher keep children safe online, ictQATAR launched SafeSpace.qa, a website filled with valuable information and resources on cyber safety. ictQATAR Secretary General Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber first announced the site on Safer Internet Day 2010.

Watch the Campaign's TV Commercial: [43 sec. - Arabic]

ITU Launches Children Protection Guidelines

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has also made Child Online Protection a priority. On October 7th, 2009, ITU Secretary General officially announced the publication of the ITU's Child Online Protection (COP) Guidelines, to which multiple governments, NGOs and international organizations contributed.

COP's 4 key objectives are:

• Identifying risks & vulnerabilities to children in cyberspace
• Create awareness
• Develop practical tools to help minimize risks
• Share knowledge and experience

The full COP Guidelines are available on the ITU Website, by following this link.

Watch an Exclusive Interview with FCC Former Commissioner, Deborah Tate on Child Protection Online: [Starting Min.16:58]

To directly access the interview, follow this link.