Dear Editor,
With the proliferation of information communication technologies as internationally renowned smartphone manufacturers, the likes of Samsung and Apple, continue their rivalry and dominance of the ICT industry, ordinary individuals are finding themselves swept up in the never-ending euphoria of “smarter” devices entering the market.
While the fluidity and convenience which such improved technology no doubt brings to the fingertips of the ordinary individual is much cherished, it would be quite remiss for there not to be an equal appreciation of the dangers which also flow concommitantly with ICTs.
More and more it is becoming quite evident that most of the “ordinary” individuals who have the world at their fingertips do not readily appreciate the dangers which accompany such comforts. These dangers, which range from hacking and theft of personal information and identities to the cruel act which is the participation in cyberbullying can have long-lasting if not life-shattering impacts on individuals.
Take for instance the recent case in Italy where a 31-year-old woman committed suicide after a year of being cyberbullied after an explicit video of her went viral. Cases like these respect no geographic boundaries and can easily play out here in our island space — if this has not already been the case.
It is with this in mind that all stakeholders — inclusive of Government, sector players and regular citizens — seek to play their respective parts in public education campaigns and supporting existing legislation while pushing for more stringent and comprehensive laws which would allow maximum redress to those who may be ensnared by the dark side of the Web.
Noel Matherson
noelmatherson@gmail.com
With the proliferation of information communication technologies as internationally renowned smartphone manufacturers, the likes of Samsung and Apple, continue their rivalry and dominance of the ICT industry, ordinary individuals are finding themselves swept up in the never-ending euphoria of “smarter” devices entering the market.
While the fluidity and convenience which such improved technology no doubt brings to the fingertips of the ordinary individual is much cherished, it would be quite remiss for there not to be an equal appreciation of the dangers which also flow concommitantly with ICTs.
More and more it is becoming quite evident that most of the “ordinary” individuals who have the world at their fingertips do not readily appreciate the dangers which accompany such comforts. These dangers, which range from hacking and theft of personal information and identities to the cruel act which is the participation in cyberbullying can have long-lasting if not life-shattering impacts on individuals.
Take for instance the recent case in Italy where a 31-year-old woman committed suicide after a year of being cyberbullied after an explicit video of her went viral. Cases like these respect no geographic boundaries and can easily play out here in our island space — if this has not already been the case.
It is with this in mind that all stakeholders — inclusive of Government, sector players and regular citizens — seek to play their respective parts in public education campaigns and supporting existing legislation while pushing for more stringent and comprehensive laws which would allow maximum redress to those who may be ensnared by the dark side of the Web.
Noel Matherson
noelmatherson@gmail.com