Online Safety Focus
Get Safe Online, a nonprofit organisation based in the United Kingdom, is launching a cybersecurity campaign in the Pacific.
Websites for nine Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, will be launched on 1 July, 2020 aimed at providing online resources for the Pacific’s vital business operators.
The aim of the Pacific campaign is to raise awareness in each country’s business community of risks and safety measures, which will protect people and businesses from online se- curity risks.
These risks include phishing scams, identity theft, ransomware, malware, viruses and other online threats. “The services are fully funded and don’t require any resources from those who use them,” says Peter Davies, the Global Ambassador for Get Safe Online.
“It’s an ambitious agenda but, with the benefit of our experiences and successes, we know it’s achievable.” Funded by the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Commonwealth Cybersecurity Programme, Get Safe Online will work with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including independent operators in Pacific island countries through an ambitious communication campaign utilising social media, newspapers, radio and other mediums.
The Pacific island countries include Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Fiji’s Get Safe Online website can be found at www.getsafeonline.org.fj.
Get Safe Online has been providing free, accessible public education and awareness services about online risks for over 14 years
Online safety is essential for the increasing digital transactions many Pacific Islanders now use.
“There is an urgent need for us to start delivering support services,” added Mr Davies, “and it would be ideal to build partnerships with local organisations and individuals to do this more effectively.”
In the Pacific, websites and Facebook pages are being created for each island country, providing information and a forum for sharing cybersecurity concerns experienced by each country.
In-country advocates and experts will also be identified to help support the campaign and provide outreach through workshops, radio interviews, etc.
In this way, the specific concerns and needs of each island country for online safety will be addressed.
Local advocates and experts can also ensure that local languages may be used to improve understanding of cybersecurity risks and protections.
The Get Safe Online communication campaign in the Pacific is being managed by Pasifika Communications, based in Suva.
The initial communication campaign will run from July 2020 to March 2021 but may be extended.
The campaign is actively searching for relevant regional companies and for Pacific islanders in each of the nine countries who may be interested in partnering with the Project.