Connected Caribbean hosts online safety webinar on fake news
Trust is the first victim of the virus. The COVID-19 crisis has left many Internet users in the Caribbean searching online for urgent answers to difficult questions about how to stay safe in their homes and workplaces. But often what they find is misinformation, false claims and online scams. The net effect is an erosion of public confidence at a time when the region can least afford it.
An upcoming webinar, “Staying Safe Online: COVID-19 and the Caribbean Internet,” seeks to provide practical tips for avoiding harmful content, online scams and fraudulent websites. The event is intended to give media personnel, educators, youth and parents an interactive forum to gain insights and answers to a broad range of questions on the subject.
“As countries across the Caribbean take steps to protect citizens and their interests, COVID-19 continues to disrupt lives and economies. The battle, however, is not just against a pandemic. Caribbean countries are also confronting a surge in cyber-attacks, online scams and a growing a global infodemic,” said Bevil Wooding, a co-founder of Connected Caribbean, the non-profit responsible for organising the online event.
“As people increasingly turn to the Internet and online media for information and essential services, misinformation, false claims, and scams can have the cumulative effect of eroding public trust and causing real harm, when we can least afford it. This event is part of ongoing efforts to keep Internet users safe, aware and informed online.”
Wooding who serves as the Director of Caribbean Affairs for the American Registry for Internet Numbers, will moderate the upcoming webinar. The event is being hosted by Connected Caribbean, in collaboration with ARIN, the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission and Covela Foundation.
Panellists including Daren Dhoray (CybersafeTT), Jessica Espinoza and Irene Quiñonez (Facebook) will present practical solutions for protecting users and businesses against the spread of fake news and other harmful online content. Participants will be allowed to pose live questions to the panelists.
The event is scheduled for May 29 at 1:00 to 2:30pm EST. It is open to the public and free of charge. Registration details are available on the Connected Caribbean website.