Ministry of Education and BSA launch Cybersafety educational Web resource to help youths avoid dangers of the Internet

To address the escalating dangers and security threats posed by the Internet, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) today launched an educational web initiative aimed at highlighting these dangers and helping schools, parents and youths understand and avoid the many risks they face online.

The launch of the B4USurf (www.b4usurf.org) initiative was officiated by Mr. Ng Boon Keng, Senior Special Officer to Deputy Minister, representing YB. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Minister of Education 1, Ministry of Education, Malaysia. B4USurf provides information and resources for educators, parents and youths across Asia to promote safe, healthy and appropriate Internet usage among the young.

As the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world, the BSA aims to encourage parents, schools, as well as governments across the region to take a serious view of the dangers that exist online and to take steps to educate the young on responsible Internet usage.

Speaking at the launch of B4USurf, BSA’s Director of Antipiracy, Asia, Tarun Sawney noted that with Internet penetration growing rapidly across the region, the serious online risks encountered by youths in Asia have also multiplied.

“The Internet has spawned a new generation of youths who spend significant amounts of time in cyberspace, where they are exposed to illegal or unwholesome content, or are lured into unlawful activities or behaviour that put themselves and the security of their computers at risk,” said Sawney.

“Given these dangers and the fact that the present and all future generations will immerse themselves in the digital age, we feel the time has come for greater participation from schools and governments across the region to provide education in this vital area,” he said.

In a speech read by Ng on behalf of the Deputy Minister, he said,” We encourage schools to develop and maintain rigorous and effective cybersafety policies and practices which aim to maximise the benefits of ICT and the Internet to student learning and to the effective operation of the school, while minimising and managing any risks.”
   
“Cybersafety practices will aim to not only maintain a cybersafe school environment, but also address the needs of students and other members of the school community to receive education about the safe and responsible use of current and developing information and communication technologies.”