We’re supporting Safer Internet Day on 8 February!

‘Play it fair online’ is the theme for Safer Internet Day (SID) this year and the Office of the Information Commissioner is once again supporting this important initiative.

With so much of our time currently spent online, it has never been more important to promote the safe use of technology, build digital skills and help all Australians have safer, more positive experiences online.

The day raises awareness about online safety for people of all ages and is celebrated right across the world. Through simple actions like being safe, respectful and kind, we can all #PlayitFairOnline.

In the lead up to the event, OIC will be sharing online safety messages and promoting the positive use of digital technology across our Twitter and LinkedIn channels.

Also, the Online Safety Act commenced on 23 January 2022 and provides additional protections for Australians in the fight against online harms. The Online Safety Act 2021 brings some big changes, including a world-first Adult Cyber Abuse Scheme to protect Australians aged over 18, and a broader Cyberbullying Scheme for Australian children to capture harms that occur on online services other than social media.

The eSafety Commissioner now has the authority to order service providers to remove illegal and restricted content – including child sexual exploitation material and terrorist content – no matter where it is hosted.

The Online Safety Act 2021 has significant implications for online service providers because it makes them more accountable for the online safety of people who use their service.

More information is available on the eSafety Commissioner’s website.