Complaints of xenophobia dominate first week of the Internet Safe Line

Sapo opens laboratory at the University of Aveiro

Formally presented today, but online a week ago, the Internet Safe Project wants to create more awareness about Internet security, bringing together several entities in a consortium that created and maintains a web portal and an alert line, as TeK had previously reported.

Pedro Veiga, president of FCCN – Foundation for National Scientific Computing, today shared the numbers of complaints received in the first week, by email, telephone and Internet, which approached the three hundred. Of these, 126 were discarded, and 160 complaints were accepted by the team for analysis, which have already resulted in 7 cases of child pornography, one in support of violence and 11 in racism.

«It does not make sense to extrapolate these figures, because it is only the first week of activity of the Linha Alerta Internet Segura», says Pedro Veiga, who promises to release new statistics later.

The Safe Internet Project is coordinated by UMIC, involving the CRIE – Computers, Networks and Internet team at the School of the General Directorate of Innovation and Curricular Development of the Ministry of Education, FCCN and Microsoft. The idea had already been submitted for approval by the European Commission, which finances the project under the Safer Internet Plus program, and the portal was online on the 27th.

The consortium formed by the various entities is still finalizing protocols with other organizations linked to the protection of young people, such as the Child Support Institute and the Victim Support Institute. The signing of the protocol with INSAFE is also expected soon, which will make it possible to integrate the international network.

Luis MagalhĂŁes, president of UMIC, recalled in the presentation of the project that Internet Segura has Education, Training and Information as fundamental axes, and that the Internet does not bring new risks, replicating those that already exist in society, although amplified by the dimension of the relations provided worldwide network.

Also Carlos Zorrinho, coordinator of the Technological Plan where this line of action is inserted, shares the same idea, reaffirming that there are dangers on the Internet but that the opportunities are much higher. The official warned, however, that one should not fall into the temptation to create a «network police», even because of the stifling effects that it can have, disseminating initiatives such as the Secure Internet where collaboration between the various entities can make the safer community.

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