Maltese aware of internet threats to child safety - Eurobarometer survey

Malta is one of the highest-ranking EU countries when it comes to internet users’ awareness of the threats posed to child safety, a Eurobarometer survey has found.

The Malta Communications Authority said this showed that past campaigns to educate the public on internet safety, with special focus on minors, had paid off.

The survey gave an insight into home users’ attitudes towards confidence in information technology.

Home Internet users were interviewed last September to gauge their perception of their online safety with a view to promulgate more effective and meaningful ICT security policy making.

Malta scored above the EU average in a number of sub-sections of the survey. All Maltese home internet users interviewed said they were aware of the existence of viruses and malicious software that damaged files or computers when browsing the Internet, and 97 percent said they were aware of spam, as well as the hazards and frustration it brought with it.

MCA said it was also reassuring that 94 percent of Maltese home internet were aware of the potential danger of identity and credit card theft.

The survey also highlighted the fact that consumers were still sceptical about internet transactions. On average, only 12 percent of respondents felt completely safe about conducting transactions over the internet.

Locally, the situation was even more acute with only nine percent of Maltese respondents feeling completely safe, 30 percent feeling rather safe, 19 percent not really feeling safe and 12 percent not feeling safe at all.

MCA executive chairman Philip Micallef said that it appeared that a lack of confidence was deterring internet users from purchasing online.

“Users need to be assured that their rights are guaranteed. That is why the MCA periodically produces, publishes and distributes brochures about internet safety to raise public awareness, including a consumer information guide about shopping online.

“The MCA has also partnered with other stakeholders in the eSecurity Task Force which has submitted recommendations to government regarding a national eSecurity Strategy,” he said.

Ing. Micallef said that 39 percent of Maltese internet users believed that it was their responsibility to ensure their safety on the internet (compared to EU average of 30 percent), 23 percent that it was the responsibility of the internet service provider (EU average 21percent), and only 11 percent believed that it should be the responsibility of the public authorities (EU average 13 percent).