Last week I blogged that there were a few events at #CyberFest21, that stood out for me during the festival. While all of the events were good, some have stuck in my memory, either because of the subject it was covering, the depth of the presentations or the audience it was aimed at.
This week I am looking at ‘Cyber Security for Children and Young People’ the thirteenth and penultimate event during #CyberFest, held on 29 September. This event, supported by the North East Initiative on Business Ethics, focussed on some of the issues that affect children and young people and what can be done to help protect them from the more seamier side of the Internet.
With increasing numbers of children having their own online bank accounts (some linked to their parents accounts) there are some basic security issues that they, their parents or guardians should all be aware of. The rise of such threats as hacking social media accounts, blackmailing, revenge porn, in-game purchases and any number of issues from an increasing online presence, means that cyber hygiene for children and young people has never been a more important issue.
Lucy Batley, owner at Traction Industries and Jonny Green, Cyber Protect & Prepare Officer at North East Regional Special Operations Unit get the event underway with a discussion of their personal experiences around the issues facing children and young people online.
This is followed by Mimi Theobald, graduate of the University of St Andrews in International Relations, discussing ‘Are children and young people particularly vulnerable to cyber threat?’. Alex Craig at Muckle LLP, then brings us up to date with some new legislation in this area ‘Children’s Code (Age Appropriate Design Code).
The presentations are then followed by a round table discussion questioning ‘Can children and young people do more to help themselves? What is the role of big tech? Is the industry doing enough to protect vulnerable groups? All of the speakers are involved in the discussion which is chaired by Dawn Dunn, Innovation Manager at Dynamo North East.
There is also a short appearance by Andrew Elliot, Deputy Director for Cyber Security and Digital Identity Directorate, DCMS.
The event is aimed at parents, child carers, children and young people (over 14), childminders and childrens’ services providers.
The video can be found here.
Timestamp for the speakers:
- What are the issues facing children and young people online – Lucy Batley, Owner at Traction Industries and Jonny Green, Cyber Protect & Prepare Officer at North East Regional Special Operations Unit – 5:50 mins
- Are children and young people particularly vulnerable to cyber threat – Mimi Theobald Aspiring Solicitor, Graduate of the University of St Andrews in International Relations – 25:00 mins
- Deputy Director, Cyber Security at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – 46:50 mins
- Children’s Code (Age Appropriate Design Code) – Alex Craig, Partner, Muckle LLP – 49:35 mins
- Discussion – Can children and young people do more to help themselves? What is the role of big tech? Is the industry doing enough to protect vulnerable groups? – Speakers plus Dawn Dunn, Dynamo North East – 1:13:20 hour and mins
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 