The experience of lockdowns during the pandemic has highlighted how we rely on the internet for everything from work to social networking, to shopping and entertainment. However, even as the pandemic prompted us to move more of our daily activities online, Europol has reported an accompanying uptick in cybercrime. How can we make ourselves less vulnerable to cybersecurity threats while keeping the advantages of digital connectivity? How can we stay safe even if we’re not confident with technology? And, as we look towards the future of the web and technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and so-called Web3, are there changes coming down the pipeline that might improve cybersecurity, or could they leave us vulnerable to new threats?
We put some of YOUR questions on this topic to a panel of experts to discuss solutions:
- Billy Kelleher, MEP, Renew Europe
- Karen Massin, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy EU Institutions, Google
- Pearse O’Donohue, Director for the Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission
- Andrea Garcia Rodriguez, Lead Digital Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre
Check out their answers to your questions in the video above.
How can we make the internet a safer space? Can we find ways, from technology innovations to stricter law enforcement or public awareness campaigns, that can help making the world wide web a truly safe(r) space? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
Editorially independent content supported by: Google. See our FAQ for more details. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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1st confusion- sorry, please define who is “we”.
‘We’ the readers can’t! Most specialists either. It has become too complex, too technical, ever evolving, and highly sophisticated. It creates ease, order and disorder simultaneously.
The creators and actors who were/are responsible for the global de-compartmentalization and commercialization of everything on earth should be called to account to find solutions at their own cost. Not at taxpayers’ expense, who are unfortunately too timid and being overcharged by all. Including our politicians.
‘We” should be their judges, less naïve, better informed, much more critical, careful, and cautious and develop supra senses in addition to the up to 30 discovered senses. The cheapest and best of all would be the use of one’s ‘common’ sense.
Below describes what our EU experimenters created so far:
https://www.europol.europa.eu/about-europol/european-cybercrime-centre-ec3
https://www.enisa.europa.eu/
https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/european-cybercrime-centre/618/
But- the available global info is nearly endless:
https://www.cfr.org/blog/learning-compartmentalize-how-prevent-big-power-frictions-becoming-major-global-headaches
https://www.e-ir.info/2019/11/25/cyberspace-and-the-problem-of-new-spaces/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartmentalization_(information_security)
https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/governing-cyberspace-state-control-vs-multistakeholder-model#:~:text=Although%20there%20are%20different%20formulations,exception%20at%20a%20practical%20level.
Not to forget- strictly control the itchy finger before pushing a button on any e-device which exposes one to the www- cyber world.
By finding the sourses of internet fishing of personal data, sending with clear intention ransomware and viruses etc.
Finding, distroying and punishing these sources of internet distructions!
Once this is not going to be done, this type of “jobs” will encrease…
By not using it for business.
By shutting it down. Only dead things cannot attack you.BTW, the internet is dead since Facebook has been arround and google search stopped working properly.
Internet is a safe place. Just shut social media down
Kram på er
there’s no problem with the Internet. you’re making that up so you can attempt to steal more of the people their freedom.
Making the internet a safer place !!!! Are you all insane ? Start with allowing people to tell the truth ! Why don’t you debate starting to make the world a safer place ! Idiots !
D’autant plus depuis que le Royaume Uni ne fait plus partie des Etats-Unis d’Europe, votre utilisation officielle, massive et délibérée de la langue anglo-étasunienne est inappropriée et abusive.
URSULEXIT
ALBOURLEXIT
Internet will be safest if all “good meaning people” leave it alone. It works well enough.
Shut it down
I don’t feel safe to post things that may not be in line with the mandatory narratives.So stop censoring and punishing people for their views or even questions the overlords don’t like.
Since the introduction of internet , people are more stupid than ever before !
internet is save the EU is the danger for the people
Liberté totale et moins de gouv et grand corp dans l’internet; comme dans la société
Obviously by banning free speech and cultivating that wonderful victim mentality that’s so popular these days. Duh.
Good luck :)
A safer space will mean to build the internet around society, the educational sector and the media sector, to build a ‘society of knowledge’ (Stiegler). I just read about the EU plans for a new era of connectivity (the ‘fourth industrial revolution’). In my view this is highly capital intensive which makes us dependent on China for the scarce resources and is destructive for the planet in other places leaving vulnerable people behind or in slavery. It creates conflicts. I don’t consider this safe. Safe would be getting back to the basics, challenge capital intensive solutions and adopt cheaper solutions by organizing the internet for the purpose of knowledge for the benefit of citizens in Europe and outside. That has a chance to give rise to a safe online and offline space. It would be also much more resilient. A final question: What is the meaning of Europe?
Safe from what? Safe from not crating revenue for you? Safe from illegal thoughts? Safe from distourbing oneself? Safe from being associated with uncontrolled individuals?
I see a nasty cultural imperialist stance of forming everything according to US-morals that is as dangerous as the blantant Russian imerialism as formulated by Putin today in Moskow.
The internet has to be rebuild, it’s not working properly anymore, it has no future the way it functions now. It can only be safe if it’s remade for the purpose of finding information and for contributory purposes, in other words if it’s useful for everybody instead of a channel for expressing anger.
The EU must have it’s own determination to overcome the deplorable state of the internet. European researches have the insights, the ideas and the answers. The Americans have the metaverse which goes in a totally different direction. Both can coexist, if things are fortunate. The EU should trust it’s researchers instead of rejecting the ideas, insights and knowledge built, which I see as a danger looming over the whole EU project (a form of repression which might become fatal in a very unfortunate way). Only with political will, trust and courage, can Europe lead us toward a new and true digital culture, of knowledge and utility (in contrast to the Metaverse), which is currently lacking, of which the anger and spiritual misery testify. A safe internet asks for a new digital future and it’s for those responsible to recognize and trust their own researchers.
The Metaverse in no way tackles the challenges of the planetary crisis we are in. It’s up to the EU to respond to that crisis, by redeveloping the internet. It’s to the EU to implement the proposals produced in it’s own institutions by talented researchers who deserve the utmost recognition and reward. With trust, determination and courage, the EU can and should lead the way. Safe means to have a future. I hope this helps.