Google to collaborate with Government and local creators to address scam prevention, online safety
The initiatives see collaboration with multiple private and public sectors.
Google has announced its plan to work with local content creators to raise awareness on scam prevention, along with six other new and expanded online safety initiatives at the Safer with Google event on Friday (Jul 7).
Known as the YouTube Creators for Impact 2.0 initiative, the programme will work closely together with creators such as The Smart Local, Geek Culture and Sethisfy Personal Finance to develop scam prevention content ideas.
In 2022, the inaugural run of the programme brought together creators, experts and key opinion leaders to develop content around the topics of misinformation and mental health.
Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development was present to launch the Youtube Creators for Impact 2.0.
This initiative is conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and supported by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).
Another initiative announced was the YouTube Priority Flagger Programme (YTPFP). The programme allows for organisations to flag content that violates the platform’s community guidelines.
The programme includes a web form that government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can use to contact YouTube directly. There will also be ongoing discussions and feedback about YouTube content areas and occasional online training.
Together with Limitless, Samaritans of Singapore, SG Her Empowerment (SHE), and TOUCH Community Services, YTPFP aims to tackle online harms by identifying violative content with awareness of local cultural contexts.
Similarly, Google Cloud has launched a Priority Flagger Programme in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), that aims to identify potential phishing websites and malware hosted on the platform by prioritising the review of priority flagger submissions.
To help organisations strengthen their cybersecurity posture, Google will also partner with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to offer Google Cybersecurity Certificates to an estimated 100 enterprises, at no cost.
Developed by Google cybersecurity experts, the certificate enables organisations to identify risks, threats and vulnerabilities. It also provides them with hands-on experience using simple, yet advanced security tools.
An additional three initiatives to promote digital literacy among vulnerable segments were also unveiled – Be Internet Awesome, Project P.R.A.I.S.E and ASEAN Digital Literacy.
Google has partnered with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Media Literacy Council (MLC) to train 100,000 parents and children on cyberbullying, misinformation and privacy as part of its Be Internet Awesome programme.
The programme will utilise tools and resources like Interland – a game to practise digital literacy – and lesson plans revised by digital safety experts such as The Internet Keep Safe Coalition, ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute.
Project P.R.A.I.S.E is an initiative by RSVP Singapore The Organisation of Senior Volunteers and the SPF, which stands for Police-RSVP Anti-Scam Engagement.
Addressing the rise of scams in Singapore, Project P.R.A.I.S.E will train at least 2,000 seniors within a year to identify scams more efficiently. Google will enhance the training curriculum and provide additional training to over 100 RSVP Senior Volunteers.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Digital Literacy initiative will train 2,000 seniors and low-income families to recognise misinformation online, detect and prevent hoaxes and fake news from spreading.
A community of youth and elderly trainers will be built together with social enterprise Bamboo Builders.
“About half of the respondents of (MCI’s latest Digital Readiness) 2022 Survey said they were willing to accept the risks that came with using technology, a drop from 66 per cent in 2020. Clearly, there’s a need to strengthen trust and safeguard the wellbeing of our citizens when they go online,” said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, the guest of honour of the event.
“This is why Singapore has steadily enhanced our regulations to better protect our people, in particular, the young and vulnerable,” she added.
