VOX-Pol participated in a two-day meeting hosted by the Insafe Network of Safer Internet Centres in Prague from 27-28 May.
Insafe is a European network of 31 national awareness centres comprising the 27 EU member states and Iceland, Norway, Russia and Serbia. Each of the national centres implement awareness and educational campaigns, runs a helpline, and works closely with youth to ensure an evidence-based, multi-stakeholder approach to creating a better Internet. Co-funded by the EU, the network was founded in October 2004.
The annual Insafe meeting provides the opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge and experience about the latest online issues and trends, and to consider what the future of technology holds and how it may impact the work of Awareness Centres and Helplines in Europe, including the most appropriate advice for children, teenagers, and their families dealing with online safety issues raised by these.
VOX-Pol Coordinator Dr Maura Conway gave a keynote address at the event, focusing on violent online extremism and radicalisation. Dr. Conway also delivered two 40-minute hands-on sessions in which she introduced attendees to extremist online content, including jihadi and extreme right language, symbols, insignia, and similar material.
The event, attended by 100 participants, also included presentations from key players in the social media industry such as Facebook and Twitter.
UPDATE: Insafe has just published the second edition of its new newsletter, the BIK (Better Internet for Kids) Bulletin. It features more details about the May meeting in Prague, including Dr Conway’s contribution to the event. Read the newsletter here.