Cyber-safety reviewed to protect seniors
A new parliamentary inquiry will look at the cyber-safety of senior Australians, after the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety last week announced an investigation into how to protect older Australians as they venture online and encourage more to log on.
A new parliamentary inquiry will look at the cyber-safety of senior Australians, after the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety last week announced an investigation into how to protect older Australians as they venture online and encourage more to log on.
The inquiry came after senior Australians are shown to contribute to the fastest growing cohort of online users.
The Canberra Times reports committee chair Senator Catryna Bilyk as saying there are “specific cyber challenges” for older people who are not as “up-to-date” with technical developments.
Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show more than 60% of Australians aged 55 to 64 years, use the internet, with more than 30% of those over 65 years spending time online.
The inquiry will accept submissions until Friday, 17 February, and will reportedly look at the nature and frequency of online scams, and the things the government and industry can do to respond.
Sydney University IT Associate Professor Bjorn Landfeldt tells The Canberra Times he welcomes the inquiry, suggesting the government needs to accommodate all Australians as it rolls out the National Broadband Network.
‘‘It’s clear the older generation are at risk of missing out on a lot,’’ he claims.
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