"Control is in Our Hands" states Karim Beshara at the International Youth Forum

Session 1B, Theme II

Sharm El Sheikh: September 1, 2007:

After a rousing speech from the First Lady during the opening session of the International Youth Forum, simultaneous sessions kicked off including Theme II – Rules of Engagement: What it Takes to be Safe on the Net.

The session highlighted the actual and potential roles of ICT as a catalyst for peace as a robust enabler for young people culturally, economically and politically. Speakers included Leila Ben Debba, Manager International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children highlighting the risks of using the internet and focusing on issues such as sex, solicitation, harassment and bullying, and theft of personal information. Stephen Carrick Davies, CEO Childnet, focused on what it takes to be safe on the net stating that "there must be a shared responsibility between children and young people, industry, parents, and government", advising that the internet puts the whole world at a child's fingertips.

Mohamed Zohairy, Computer Engineering Student raised concerns about safety issues on privacy and discussed the disadvantages of young people using Internet chat and communication websites and how they can secure their personal computers. Finally, Karim Beshara, CEO, LinkdotNet spoke about the advent of detrimental websites and their rapid expansion in cyberspace stating that Egypt lacks organizations that can help people track and trace individuals in order to prevent internet abuse. "Users need awareness," said Beshara. "They need to know that they can control what they see or do on the net."

Questions raised in the session focused on the major effects of misusing the internet and how to protect young children from the detrimental websites. The general consensus was that parents should speak to their children and advise them what is right and wrong, and introduce them to interesting content online and other uses. One participant noted that "every issue is private until that person chooses to make it public".

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak attended this session and was impressed with the guest speakers. She admitted she is not a heavy internet user but being a parent, worries about her seven-year-old grandchild who uses the net to research his assignments. She spoke about how times have changed, when her message to her sons was not to talk to any strangers and that sadly this rule does not apply these days as the problem is right in their homes. As a Grandmother, Mrs. Mubarak aims to uphold the code of ethics and protect the younger generation from the negative aspects of the internet, while encouraging them to learn and explore online, gaining valuable knowledge while avoiding the downside of cyberspace.

Note to Editors:

Moderator

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President, Microsoft International

Speakers

Leila Ben Debba, Manager, The International Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Stephen Carrick Davies,CEO, Childnet
Mohamed Zohairy, Computer Engineering Student, University of Washington
Karim Beshara,CEO, Linkdotnet

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