Limit Personal Information Online

State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson, is again appealing to Internet and social media users to protect their personal information in cyberspace.

He said they should limit the amount of information they post online in order to avoid fraud and personal injury.

He was addressing a forum held at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew on Friday (November 20), where the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) announced that it will be publishing an Internet and social media guide for the protection of children, during Child Month in May 2016.

The Technology State Minister, in endorsing the move, said children should be aware that danger exists on the Internet, and as such, they must be alert at all times.

He noted while there are “tremendous” economic and other benefits to be derived from operating in cyberspace, there are also risks.

Children, he said, should limit posting details about where they live or attend school, “because it is easy for someone who may be a predator, who would be posing as somebody your age to use that information to track you down and create harm.”

He said they also need to be thoughtful about who gets their personal information, and how it is collected through computer applications and websites.

“Personal information is like money, protect it, and value it. Information about you such as the games you play, what you search for online, where you shop and live, has value just as money. Many large organisations buy that data as a way of targeting customers legitimately in sale of goods and services,” he pointed out.

The House of Representative recently passed the Cybercrimes Act, which seeks to address computer specific offences.

The new Act will replace the 2010 legislation, and incorporates new offences such as computer-related fraud or forgery; the use of computers for malicious communication; and unauthorised disclosure of investigation.