Google campaigns in schools to combat cyber crimes

Kolkata: With the present tech savvy generation indulging in more of cyber crimes, Google India carried out an awareness campaign in schools to combat it. "We decided to start a campaign to help students know how to avoid misuse of the internet and inculcate in them the best cyber practices," said Rishi S Jaitly, Policy Analyst, Google India.

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As a part of the 'Be NetSmart' initiative, Google India in association with Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kolkata Police, carried out the campaign in nine schools, thus covering 5000 schools in Kolkata. It has also covered 30, 000 students of Mumbai and Chennai. "Teenagers and youngsters often get involved in an increasing number of internet crimes. There is an increasing amount of internet crimes that the teenagers and youngsters get involved with. Such awareness campaigns are good for them," said Rupak Hom Roy, Principal of the Ballygunge Government High School, one of the schools visited by team.

The entire program tipped the youngsters on ways to avoid misuse of internet, targeting to control over the crimes on the emerging world of computer technology. The students were informed of the spywares that exist and hence were advised to be cautious while downloading anything. Moreover, it also created awareness on the privacy part, citing the presence of hackers who can have access to any information on the net. Emphasizing on the need of awareness, Debashis Roy, Additional Joint Commissioner, Kolkata Police, said, "We have requested Google to especially focus on Bengali-medium schools which have greater need for exposure to such awareness campaigns on issues pertaining to internet security and safe surfing." AMAI has given it's nod to the need of such awareness and will be responsible for reaching to the nook and corners of the country from the near future after the completion of the first leg. In the next leg the program is set to take in the Delhi students.

The Be NetSmart initiative is formed for students in Class VI and above. It is also spreading awareness among students, teachers and parents.