Cyber safety in remote Aboriginal communities and towns: Summary interim report
Cyber safety in remote Aboriginal communities and towns: Summary interim report Report
- Author(s): Rennie, E, Hogan, E., Holcombe-James, I
- Published: 2016
- Publisher: Swinburne Institute for Social Research
Abstract: Cyber safety encompasses the protection of internet users from online risks and security breaches, including cyberbullying, identity theft, invasion of privacy, harassment, and exposure to offensive, illegal or inappropriate material (ACMA 2010). While the more dramatic and disturbing aspects of cyber safety are often quick to capture public attention, these are symptomatic of a range of issues related to developing online capacities and ‘digital citizenship’ (GIER 2011, p. 16). The Swinburne Institute for Social Research is investigating safety and wellbeing as they relate to communication technologies, in remote Aboriginal communities and towns. Telstra is funding the project as an action within the ‘Connection and Capability’ priority focus area of its Reconciliation Action Plan 2015–18. This summary report describes the outcomes of the needs-analysis phase of the project, conducted from September 2015 to June 2016, which involved seeking feedback on these issues from a cross-section of Northern Territory Aboriginal people living in a regional centre, a larger community and a smaller settlement, with different histories of exposure to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Our research suggests that there are particular mobile phone practices and internet uses among remote Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory that are leading to identifiable cyber safety problems. Some of these practices, and the resulting issues, appear to be different from those experienced by other segments of the Australian population. Significant aspects of this internet use include: • Internet access is predominantly mobile-only. • There is a high level of sharing of devices. • Prepaid mobile broadband is preferred. • Facebook and AirG/Divas Chat dominate social media use. The main cyber safety issues emerging from the research can be grouped into three categories: inappropriate content and comments, privacy issues, and financial security and management.
- Urls: https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/about-us/community-environment/pdf/Indigenous_Australians_Summary.pdf
- Publisher Location: Melbourne