A cyber security adviser, Mr Kofi Annan, has stated that concerns raised by the education minister regarding students’ use of government-provided tablets to access non-academic content, including pornography, are not surprising.
He noted that although this is not something surprising, it was a bit troubling, and there was a need to address it.
Mr Annan indicated that the most appropriate solution to this challenge is to restrict the use of the tablets to academic purposes. In an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he emphasised the need to intensify digital literacy among the Ghanaian populace.
He explained that the use of mobile devices is not just for making or receiving calls or text messages but also involves securing these devices to avoid exposure to unhealthy content.
Mr Annan stated that the public must have knowledge about the good and bad use of devices and how to secure oneself when using these devices, and that without this knowledge, one is classified as digitally illiterate.
He said that before the tablets were distributed to the students, they should have been restricted to only educational materials or customised without internet accessibility.
‘We could have restricted the use of the tablet to only educational materials or even blocked it from accessing the internet. India has a system like that known as a mobile learning system with tablets with only educational materials on the tablet. Students are unable to connect the device to any other devices or access the internet.’ If we want them to access the internet, we can restrict access or block access to pornography materials.
The situation is not surprising but troubling, he added. Mr Annan stressed that children must be protected from content that can undermine their safety and mental wellbeing. He noted that when it comes to child online protection, it is a collective responsibility, with parents having a key role to play.
Mr Kofi Annan revealed that UNICEF has over the years supported child online safety in Ghana through legislative assistance, partnerships, and practical initiatives like the creation of a digital forensic lab and a cyber tip line.
He indicated that UNICEF works with the Cyber Security Authority and other partners to integrate child protection into national strategies, train law enforcement, and raise awareness among children, teachers, and parents about preventing online abuse and exploitation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
