Cyberethics: Cyprus Safer Internet Center

Cyberethics

Contract Title	CyberEthics
Contract Number	SIP2005AN-38265-CyberEthics
Funding Period	01/09/2006 to 31/08/2008
Funding Agency	Safer Internet Plus Programme
Total Cost	€292,549.00

Partners	CNTI,CyBC,Olive Branch, Family Planning Association, University of Cyprus

Website	http://www.cyberethics.info

The Cyberethics project aims at devising a cohesive, hard-hitting and targeted awareness campaign using the most appropriate media, taking into account best practice and experience in other countries.

Overall Objective

The first objective is to implement a strong campaign, under the acronym “CyberEthics” concerning the safe use of Internet in Cyprus, which will serve the needs of all people that live on the island (i.e., also Turkish Cypriots and other minorities) and address not only issues of pornography, but also racism (currently on the rise in Cyprus), gender discrimination and inappropriate use of peoples’ images. The second objective is to engage in the process actors from the government and the civil society, thus contributing towards the eradication of cyber crime through informed actions of European citizens and public institutions that aim to change behaviours, mentality and attitudes, giving special emphasis to rural and less developed areas of the country. Taking advantage of the applicant’s expertise and international network in mobile technologies attention will also be given to unethical/illegal usages of all new online technologies (i.e., mobile and broadband content, online games, peer-to-peer file transfer and all other forms of real-time communication).

Specific Objectives

Act as node of awareness network in Cyprus.

Devise a cohesive, hard-hitting and targeted awareness campaign using the most appropriate media, taking into account best practice and experience in other countries.

Establish and maintain a partnership (formal or informal) with key players (government agencies, press and media groups, ISP associations, users organisations, education stakeholders) and actions in their country relating to safer use of Internet and new media.

Promote dialogue and exchange of information notably between stakeholders from the education and technological fields.

Where appropriate, cooperate with work in areas related to the Safer Internet plus programme such as in the wider field of media and information literacy or consumer protection.

Inform users about European filtering software and services and about hotlines and self- regulation schemes.

Actively cooperate with other national nodes in the European network by exchanging information about best practices, participating in meetings and designing and implementing a European approach, adapted as necessary for national linguistic and cultural preferences.