On Safer Internet Day that is celebrated on February 7, the police carried out activities to inform and sensitize people about methods of protecting children online. The police urge the parents to supervise their children so as to see what they do on the Internet. For better monitoring, the computer connected to the Internet should be placed in an open area from where the child can be easily supervised, IPN reports.
Also, Internet filtering should be used and all the child’s accounts on social networking sites should be monitored. Privacy settings should be configured and strong and unique passwords should be created for each account, which should be changed periodically. The parents should use multifactor authentication and install parental control software.
As to the recommendations for children, these are urged not to offer personal data about them or the family to persons online and not to tell the email password to other persons. If a child wants to meet a person whim whom they got squinted on the Internet, they should inform the parents about this. Any case of online abuse can be reported to the Child’s Telephone on 116-111 or to the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention on (022) 75-88-06, (022) 75-67-87.
Safer Internet Day has been celebrated annually since 2004. It is a global, community-led observance which provides a space for all stakeholders to reflect on how together we can promote a responsible, respectful, critical and creative use of digital technologies with the ultimate goal of fostering a better Internet for all.
In 2022, the police in Moldova recorded 403 cases of child sexual abuse, with 52 of these involving the use of information technology. Twenty-three minors became victims.
