At the time when computer, mobile phones and other similar devices have become an inseparable part of our lives, it becomes important for authorities to ensure cyber safety for users. Authorities in Qatar have left no stone unturned to make its residents safe in digital space.
To mark this year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) celebrations (which is observed on February 6), the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) last week signed an MoU with Vodafone as partner on cyber safety initiatives. The Ministry is running a number of programs in this regard including Haseen, SafeSpace, Ammen Taslam (#Secure4Safety), Ethical Responsibility in a Digital World, SID, and the Digital Literacy Curriculum carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Education & Higher Education
Ammen Taslem is a cyber safety social media campaign started by Ministry in 2016 with an objective of increasing the digital literacy of Qatari communities. The program focuses on developing the awareness messages using various mechanisms such as videos, GIFs, infographics, articles and trigger discussions through social media influencers and publishing them on social media channels as facebook, twitter and instagram.
The ‘Guide to Ethical Responsibility in the Digital World’ has been developed by the Ministry to encourage a change in online behavior so that it is aligned with one’s responsibility to behave in a responsible and ethical manner. It encourages the application of the same self-discipline used to conduct every day offline social interactions.
SafeSpace.qa is a website that was launched by the Ministry to help parents and teachers keep children safe online. This website is filled with valuable information and resources on cyber safety and provides educational games and tips, along with up-to-date information to help parents and teachers protect kids from cyber-bullying and other dangers.
Safespace also integrates two other unique programs- ‘Digital Literacy Curriculum’ and ‘Haseen’.
MoTC in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has launched the Digital Literacy Curriculum aimed at training master trainers in Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The program consists of 16 courses that deliver a series of lectures, workshops and quizzes using a web browser to be conveniently accessed via safespace.qa.
In February 2015, MoTC launched a cyber safety learning program ‘Haseen’ in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). The program which is accessible to teachers via www.safespace.qa aims to raise awareness and promote an informed and healthy cyber safety culture by integrating learning moments into every day classes.
Haseen consists of 300 learning activities (in English and Arabic) with over 100 learning resources (videos, quizzes, animations etc.), linked to the school curriculum that educates students on the safe and responsible use of ICT. All the steps taken by the Ministry shows that authorities do not want to take any chance for ensuring cyber safety of its residents.
