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NCC tasks parents on children’s uncontrolled exposure to online activities

By Adeyemi Adepetun
28 October 2022   |   3:25 am
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged parents and guardians to monitor and manage the engagement of their children online, as uncontrolled exposure to the cyberspace is fraught with a lot of negativities to children’s wellbeing.   Contributing during the First Web Rangers Nigeria Summit in Abuja, a Google’s initiative that focuses on developing digital…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged parents and guardians to monitor and manage the engagement of their children online, as uncontrolled exposure to the cyberspace is fraught with a lot of negativities to children’s wellbeing.
 
Contributing during the First Web Rangers Nigeria Summit in Abuja, a Google’s initiative that focuses on developing digital literacy and equipping telecoms consumers with the knowledge they require for their online safety, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said it is imperative to know what children are doing in the cyberspace.
 
At the summit, with the theme: ‘Navigating the Responsibility of Online Safety Between Users, Providers and Regulators,’ which discussed measures for addressing challenges posed by online criminal activities as they affect children and youths, Danbatta, represented by the Director, New Media and Information Security (NMIS), Dr. Haru Alhassan, said that the Commission is committed to supporting the governance and security of the nation’s cyberspace, as well as facilitating the adoption of innovative technologies and acquisition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills.
   


In a statement, yesterday, Danbatta said the telecoms regulator is aware of responsibilities entrusted on it in ensuring safety in the digital ecosystem, which informed the establishment of NCC’s Computer Security Incidence Response Team (CSIRT), inaugurated in 2021.
 
He explained that CSIRT responds to computer security incidents to regain control and minimise damage, providing or assisting with effective incident response and recovery, as well as inhibiting computer security incidents such as malware, virus, and online child threats.
 
Danbatta also recalled the Commission’s establishment of the Internet Industry Code of Practice (ICP) in 2019, which is designed to secure the country’s cyberspace against imminent threats from cyber attackers, as well as addressing issues such as online child protection, privacy and data protection, among others
 
He noted that the Commission is a member of the National Committee on the Development of a Unified National Strategy on Child Online Protection (COP) in Nigeria, and emphasised that NCC regularly sensitises parents and children on cybercrime trends such as cyberbullying, phishing, and online identity theft.

The Manager, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google Nigeria, Dawn Dimowo, stated that the summit is an opportunity to strengthen advocacy for digital safety, and allow youths share their innovation.
 

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