Kenyans have featured in a continental event in Johannesburg, South Africa that seeks to raise awareness of a safer and better internet, especially for children.
The Africa Online Safety Platform (AOSP) is an Africa-wide project seeking to address African online safety at a systemic level.
The site is intended to look at how online safety issues affect different parts of Africa. The aim is to keep everyone particularly young people safe.
The site further looks at how to teach online safety formally in schools and at home and sources for funding opportunities for safety innovators.
It also seeks to enlighten people on how to get help if a crime or other violation occurs.
Two Kenyans were among the panellists at the event.
Dennis Ratemo, Programme Manager, Terre des Hommes and Martha Sunda, Executive Director, Childline Kenya represented the country.
“Their discussions underscored the importance of solutions that were suited to local contexts in Africa,” a statement from AOSP said.
The panellists from South Africa were Craig Rosewarne, Managing Director of Wolfpack Information Risk and Camaren Peter, Director/Executive Lead, Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC).
The panellists reflected on what online safety innovators from South Africa and Kenya discussed.
AOSP offers innovative approaches to addressing the complex safety issues the internet presents.
These range from unique ways of combating misinformation and disinformation, tracking cyber criminals, supporting journalists targeted with hate speech and bullying, integrating online safety training into school curriculums, and much more.
During celebrations to mark Safer Internet Day, organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
The 2024 edition of Safer Internet Day took place on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.
