Put digital skills on curriculum: Google
A senior Google official said such information about the safe use of the internet should be an important part of every child’s education.
“Knowing how the internet works is as important a lifeskill as the safe cross code,” said Sue Duke, head of public policy at Google and its subsidiary, YouTube.
She told the Oireachtas communications committee that Google’s expert advisers had recommended that the company focus on assisting peer-to-peer education in relation to internet safety.
Ms Duke said Google was involved in several initiatives to promote responsible digital citizenship and digital literacy. However, Ms Duke said governments also have a role to play in ensuring children acquire digital skills.
The committee is due to publish a report shortly on how problems posed by the irresponsible use of social media might be addressed.
It heard yesterday that 72 hours of content are uploaded to YouTube every minute, with the site receiving 4bn views every day.
Ms Duke said the scale of material posted on YouTube meant the company had to rely on “community policing” to draw its attention to any content which violated its rules.
Ms Duke explained there was a facility to flag any video with questionable content. For serous breaches, users’ accounts could be terminated, she said.
While YouTube co-operates with any police investigation in relation to content on its site, the committee heard that the company does not routinely report potentially illegal material to the authorities.
Meanwhile, Digital Rights Ireland said many issues of concern about the adverse use of social media were already governed by existing legislation.
DRI said protections are in place in relation to defamation, abusive and threatening content, and data protection.
Chairman TJ McIntyre warned that any plans to amend some legislation to extend its application to internet users could undermine their rights.
He pointed out that any restrictions on privacy or anonymity of internet users could have unintended consequences for vulnerable groups. For example, Mr McIntyre said, it is important that children, people in abusive situations, and whistleblowers could discuss their situation online without revealing their identity.
