The question of "Cyber" Safety

This morning (with thanks to @craigthomler & Twitter) I came across this Submission to the Joint Select Committee of Cyber Safety from Mark Newton. It's 18 pages long yet I sat at my desk and took the time to read through it, thoroughly, no skimming

I was struck by much of this submission, agreeing with most of it and glad that someone was both able to put into words so many of my own thoughts and arguments as well as submit the same to the Joint Select Committee. I look forward to reading ALIA's submission on the same topic.

Perhaps just a few of the many quotes that struck a chord with me.

"This committee is looking at “cyber-safety.” I put it to the committee’s members that the real issue is “safety.” Child abuse is child abuse; bullying is bullying; stalking is stalking; harassment is harassment. Whether they happen online or offline is totally immaterial to the victim and irrelevant to the perpetrator. The Government’s response should and must be indifferent to the medium through which the crime is committed." (p5)

And the bit that really got up my nose in regards to the better rating of games, indicating that if the public response doesn't say what the government wants to hear then they'll just ask the question again is.... "Public consultations yielding over 50,000 responses in favor of the establishment of an R18+ rating for computer games, put on the back-burner because, apparently, 50,000 responses is inadequate and more consultation is required." (p18) wtf!!

And in closing,
"This Government has literally no idea what it’s doing with the online environment, and has shown an outright refusal to be educated about it. Is it any wonder that so many people distrust them?
This Committee represents a very rare opportunity to inform the Government. For all of our sakes, I hope they’re prepared to listen." (p18) Here, here.