Integration of digital technologies in priority areas, such as public administration, as well as education, imposes the need to promote information and literacy, and build the skills required to use electronic platforms and services. In addition to the development of digital products and intensive implementation of technology in governance, one of the key concerns of e-Governance Agency (EGA) is the online safety of users irrespective of their age, status, social category or level of education.

In this context, the information and digital literacy campaign, implemented by EGA throughout June 2021, reached yesterday a group of children aged between 10 and 14 years. Children attending the Vacation Club "Academia Ta” (”Your Academy") at the Republican Centre for Children and Youth ARTICO participated in an open lesson on online safety, presented by EGA experts. More than 40 participants learned about the online opportunities, as well as about the risks they may be exposed to when exploring the virtual world. They also received information about how to recognize the risks and avoid them, using the Internet safely and responsibly.

During the pandemic, children have become active users of the Internet, spending more time online. This gives them many benefits, but also exposes them to higher risks, including inappropriate, harmful content, online harassment and other dangers. The children took part in an interactive dialogue about online safety, and about cyber security and learned to distinguish between these concepts. The first is a set of measures taken to protect the user from harmful online content, while the second refers to protection of data, information and devices used to access the Internet.

During the information session, children talked about their experiences as technology users, referring to advantages and disadvantages, watched a series of videos produced by EGA, participated in solving an online test on Internet safety and received useful advice and recommendations on how to protect their personal data, what to do when they are bothered by malicious content, malicious virtual people or cyber viruses.

In order to successfully implement the digitization policies defined in the Moldova’s e-Transformation Agenda, the e-Governance Agency is open to new collaborations designed to inform and improve the literacy of the population about the opportunities offered by the existing digital platforms and services, the newest electronic products made available to citizens and announces its availability to provide trainings, information sessions, workshops and other digital literacy activities for anyone who is interested.