ISPA's online safety posters to educate users

The first phase of the initiative has seen ISPA design posters in all 11 official languages that convey online safety messages. The posters are available here. The English-language free online safety posters are available for ordering in pre-packed tubes of three posters. Each tube contains one each of ISPA's 'Protecting Children', 'Safe Money', and 'Zombie Botnet' themed posters. Posters in the other 10 official languages can be freely downloaded.

"By producing material that can be ordered by any person or institution that has an internet connection, we're optimistic about educating the maximum number of people as possible," said Graham Beneke, ISPA chair. ISPA specifically aims to inform schools, universities, employers, Internet cafes and parents about the availability of ordering its online safety posters.

Protecting those in cyberspace

The 'Protecting Children in Cyberspace' poster, for example, contains text that aims to educate, encourage awareness and provides information on privacy for both parents and children.

Queried about South Africans' access to the web, Beneke explained that South Africa now has almost 25 million internet users and is number six in the world when it comes to use of the mobile internet by cell phone users.

ISPA is a non-profit lobbying organisation comprising over 173 Internet Service Provider (ISPs) and affiliate members who together represent the bulk of the South African internet industry. The Association has a two-decade history of working to ensure fairness and greater competition in the South African telecommunications landscape, while also looking out for the wellbeing of local internet consumers.

"ISPA's online safety project represents another in a long line of modest yet tangible steps towards the ideal of a local web that feels like the kind of place it was meant to become - an environment of safe entertainment, comprehensive learning, enhanced productivity and fulfilling engagement," concluded Beneke.

A second series of posters covering additional online safety topics, including cyberbullying, cybercrime and dealing with spam are currently being designed for release by ISPA later this year.