“Privacy, data protection and online user experience” workshop

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I facilitated a workshop on “Privacy, data protection and online user experience” at the European Youth Panel in Luxembourg in November 2015. In this post originally from the Better Internet for Kids site, one of the participants, Ida, describes her experience

Young people from across Europe met for the 7th edition of the European Youth Panel (YEP) which took place in Luxembourg, last month. In total, 10 young people selected from their national youth panels to represent their peers and to share their ideas, thoughts and comments with the stakeholders were present at Safer Internet Forum.

Day 2  – Privacy, data protection and online user experience

‘This session was about privacy, data protection and online user experience.

‘To start off this session Chris, one of the youth moderators, informed us about the things that happen when we put something online. He told us that the things we put online stay there forever and that it’s stored in the databases of companies.

‘Then, we were divided up in small groups of three people where we would write the negatives of internet use and then the solutions we think these negativities should have. We then presented our problems and solutions to the whole group.

‘Chris then showed us a picture of what different companies get access to when you agree to their terms and conditions – including lots of access to our privacy.

‘During this session, I learned that my phone isn’t so private when I am downloading apps, such as Facebook, and give them access to my pictures. I also learned that even if the terms and conditions are long and difficult, we should read them or be aware of what we are agreeing to. We also learned about a website named Privacy Salon – here, you can find steps on how to protect your data and devices.

‘My favourite part about this was that it gave me information I didn’t have before – important information about my privacy rights.

‘I took home to my friends and classmates information about what different types of social media are getting access to when you agree to their terms and conditions. I will be sharing this information with as many people as I can.’

Ida, Sweden

Digital Stalking Response Protocol @ 32C3

I introduced the idea of  a Pan-European Digital Stalking Response Protocol at the #32C3 Chaos Communication Congress, the biggest hacker conference in Europe (talk begins at 30.08 in the video)

There no simple go to place for real information wrt to protection and response to cases of digital stalking, but also the information needed is very country specific. However there are clear areas that need to be addressed, regardless of country, and we propose the creation of a Pan-European protocol on digital stalking which we will begin at a self organised session here at 32C3.

Speaking at #insafe2015

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Last week I did two workshops for the insafe training meeting in Warsaw (photo above taken from venue).

Insafe training meetings provide an opportunity for members of the network of European Safer Internet Centres (awareness raising, helplines and youth participation) to come together to discuss the latest trends in online safety issues, and share experiences and best practice examples of empowering children and young people to stay safe online.

My 2 sessions were:

I’ve been hacked”
Hacking, social engineering & pervasive algorithms

But have you actually been hacked? Or have you been socially engineered?
This workshop will explore the differences and similarities between the two and also look at how we may think we have agency in our decisions but often pervasive algorithms are determining what we can and can’t do.

We Can Haz ALL your information
Wearables, IoT and Big Data

As even more of our data is going to be made available through wearables and the “Internet of Things”, this workshop will look at the risks and realities behind the hype

@ Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2015

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I will be participating in the Safer Internet Forum which takes place in Luxembourg on October 28th & 29th in the session “Keeping up with technology: embracing the good, challenging the bad” – Parallel session A1: Youth empowerment – skills, literacy and creativity

SIF 2015 is organised by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission in the framework of the EC Better Internet for Kids strategy with funding provided by the Connecting Europe Facility programme (CEF).

Join us for Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2015, where we, along with key experts and stakeholders from Europe and beyond, will consider how to break down barriers to help make the internet a better – and more trusted – place!

We’ve seen an explosion in connectivity in recent years, and the Internet of Things has very much become a reality. Our everyday lives are being transformed by connected devices in our homes, cars and on our beings with wearable devices. But as the focus is now shifting to products aimed at younger users with the Internet of Toys – wristbands, dolls and action figures aimed at young children connecting to the cloud – do we need to rethink traditional concepts of child protection online? How will this new wave of devices impact upon the digital rights of children and young people – now and in the future – to play and create online, while retaining their privacy? And how do we as adults – parents, carers, educators and consumers – gain trust in the new products and services on offer to protect our best interests, and those of our children?

Panel discussions will focus on topics ranging from emerging technologies and trends, to children’s rights in a digital world, and policies and best practices in and beyond Europe. Importantly, we will also hear from young people direct as European Youth Ambassadors share their hopes and dreams – and concerns – for their connected futures.