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The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (CPEY), as coordinator of the Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety (https:/www.cybersafety.cy) and the Helpline 1480, provides the update statistics for the 2nd quarter of 2023 (1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023) (https:/cybersafety.cy/stats/). The Helpline 1480 aims to provide children and adolescents, young people, parents, teachers and the general public with counselling and support services regarding the safe, responsible and ethical use of the Internet and digital technologies.
From 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023, a total of 1098 people contacted the Helpline - Helpline 1480. Of the total number of calls, 283 calls (25.79%) were not related to the services provided by Helpline 1480 and concerned information on, among other things, benefits and assistance from the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance (MOLSA), etc.
It is worth noting that, incidents related to the services of Helpline 1480 have increased by 38.4% compared to the first quarter of the year 2023, while they have almost doubled compared to the corresponding report of last year 2022, as there is an increase of 47.97% (815 incidents in 2023 compared to 424 incidents in 2022). This increase attests to the successful operation of the 1480 Helpline, demonstrating the successful dissemination of its purpose and services, while at the same time, attesting to the significant acceptance and trust of the public towards it.
With regard to the 815 incidents involving the services of the 1480 Helpline, 60.12% (490 people) were female and 39.88% (325 people) were male. In terms of the profile of callers, the majority of people who called for help and support were adults at 96.69% (788 people). Only 19 people, out of a total of 815 callers, i.e. 2.33%, were minors (up to 18 years old) who called the 1480 Helpline to report personal difficulties on the Internet. While, 7 calls (0.9%) were received from parents/guardians, who reported online difficulties experienced by their minor children.
Regarding the reasons for contacting the Helpline, the majority of requests concerned incidents of cybercrime, 392 (35.8%), i.e. dealing with privacy violation (hacking), financial fraud or identity theft, via social networks or email.
Regarding the reasons for contacting the Helpline, the majority of requests concerned incidents of cybercrime, 392 (35.8%), i.e. dealing with privacy violation (hacking), financial fraud or identity theft, via social networks or email. At the same time, a significant number of calls to the Helpline - Helpline 1480, related to issues falling under the category of technical support, 263 (23.9%).
At the same time, 94 requests (8.6%) concerned data privacy complaints, namely cases of use of callers' information to create accounts or illegal publication of callers' material by other users.
Also noteworthy is the increasing trend observed in reporting incidents of sexual extortion (sextortion) (31 incidents, 2.8%), which increased by 25.8% compared to the first quarter of 2023 (21 incidents) and by 61.3% compared to last year's report in 2022 (12 incidents), demonstrating that it is a significant problem.
The Helpline 1480, aiming to provide ongoing and quality advice and support, in real time, by trained Officers, on issues relating to the safe, responsible and ethical use of the internet, to children, adolescents and their families, continues to provide its services, with the basic principle of ensuring that its services comply with National Law and are interwoven with the aspect of awareness and direct service.
All citizens can contact the Helpline 1480 by calling, anonymously and free of charge, the number 1480 (opening hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 13:00 & 15:00 - 18:00, and Saturday 10:00 - 13:00) or by sending an email to 1480helpline@cyearn.pi.ac.cy as well as via electronic chat (https:/www.cybersafety.cy/helpline-chat).
IP
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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