‘Cyber Danger’ goes to secondary schools

The DVD programme, which was designed to educate youths as well as parents and guardians about how to protect themselves from cybercrimes and other related cyber issues, is currently being distributed to all secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago.

The programme premiered on local television on June 19 and continues to be aired periodically.

Cyber Danger is also being used in workshops focussing on cyber security for youth audiences at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s recently launched “ICT Caribbean Roadshow”. The Roadshow is intended to raise awareness among the public and private sectors, civil society and academia of the innovative approaches needed for the effective use of ICTs in government, business and social development.

Cyber Danger consists of a 45-minute dramatic presentation about the dangers associated with careless Internet use and a discussion between youths and a panel consisting of several professionals. The dangers highlighted in the programme include credit card theft, the threat of online sexual predators and the loss of career opportunities due to the posting of inappropriate photographs on the Internet. The panel comprised Curtis Seegobin, IT Administrator, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago; Sergeant Amos Sylvester, Cyber Crime Unit, Trinidad Tobago Police Service; Marina Torres, a Development and Education Specialist and Sheba Mohammed, Policy Analyst, Ministry of Public Administration.

The programme was moderated by local television and radio personality Hans De Vignes and the panelists answered several questions on the lasting effects of posting inappropriate information and photographs on the Internet, even through so-called secure social networking sites.

Prior to the premiering of Cyber Danger on television, the Authority produced a live call-in programme on local television the evening of May 18. This programme was aimed at educating parents and guardians about dangers in cyberspace and involved discussion surrounding current threats faced by young people who use the Internet.