This year, February 11 was Safer Internet Day. It’s an awareness-raising campaign to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, especially for children and young people.
Safer Internet Day began in Europe in 2003, coordinated by the Brussels-based Insafe/INHOPE Network with the support of the European Commission. It is now celebrated in more than 100 countries globally.
ConnectSafely has been the official U.S. host since 2013. The ConnectSafely Web site offers informational and community-building resources for educators, students and parents. Grants are availalble from the organization.
Australian perspective
Creative Content Australia’s 2023 Australian Piracy Behaviours and Attitudes Survey revealed that Australians who use illegal streaming sites are three times more likely to fall victim to identity theft, fraud, or hacking compared to those who rely solely on legal services.
CCA finds the rise in cybercrime there to be troubling, with over two million Australians reporting security breaches linked to their engagement with illegal platforms. The connection between piracy and cybercrime is undeniable—one-third of those who admitted to piracy also reported experiencing security breaches, and an alarming 75% of Australians using illegal streaming services have been targeted by cybercriminals.
European perspective
In the EU, 97% of young people use the internet daily. As minors are among the most vulnerable groups, the EU has put a specific focus on protecting them through various initiatives. The EU’s Safer Internet Centre network offers awareness campaigns, helplines, hotlines, and youth participation services to equip children, parents, and educators with tools and knowledge to recognise online threats and report harmful content.
EU programs
Better Internet for Kids is an EU strategy to create safer digital experiences for children. It protects them from harmful and illegal content, creates an age-appropriate digital environment, equips them with the necessary digital skills to empower them and supports their participation in shaping internet policies.
These programs are complemented by measures to protect young people that are contained in the EU’s Digital Services Act, to combat cyberbullying, illegal content, disinformation, and other threats. It mandates that online platforms implement stronger safeguards for minors, including parental controls, age verification, and limits on targeted advertising.
Further reading
Safer Internet Day USA. Online landing page for ConnectSafely. Accessed Feb 11, 2025.
Protecting yourself online: The hidden dangers of piracy. Article. February 11, 2025. Creative Content Australia
Together for a better Internet. Press release. February 11, 2025. European Commission
Safer Internet Day. Online landing page produced by the EU. Accessed Feb 11, 2025
Why it matters
Educating the consumer about piracy is a challenge, given all the distractions that modern society offers. Advocacy organizations and governmental agencies can provide the tools; the task is to break through the noise.
There’s an old adage that’s intended to reinforce the need to make regular backups: “You only have to lose your data once.” The same applies with piracy and cybercrime. You only have to be the victim once. But, for many, that’s too late.
