Toronto conference to focus on Facebook risks
22.08.2008 23:02
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- Source: cbc.ca
Ontario's information and privacy commissioner plans to use the first week of school to make high school and university students aware of how dangerous revealing too much about themselves online can be. Ann Cavoukian is hosting a one-day conference, entitled Youth Privacy Online: Take Control, Make it Your Choice!, on Sept. 4 at a hotel in downtown Toronto. The conference, organized by her office, is expected to draw at least 300 people. "The problem with a lot of youth is they don't think about the implications of putting so much information online. We want to encourage people to get talking about this. Everybody understands why he or she uses online social networking. It's a wonderful tool but you have to be smart about it," she told CBC News Online. "We thought the first week of school is an ideal time to get people's attention." She said the point of the conference is to educate administrators, teachers and parents about the privacy risks of using online social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace. Those risks include cyberbullying, identity theft, internet luring and endangering future job prospects. She said she hopes the information about risks is then disseminated to students. Cavoukian wants to increase awareness now because online social networking has moved beyond a mere fad to become a daily communications tool used by thousands of people, especially young people, sometimes with serious but unexpected results. "We are saying these are privacy settings, these are your options, these are the risks. Exercise your privacy settings instead of letting someone else take control. We are saying make it your choice instead of the choice of someone else." Cavoukian said her office has worked with Facebook to improve its privacy controls. She was initially approached by Facebook executives for help two years ago. Through its work with Facebook, her office has developed a tip sheet, available on its website, that advises people how to protect their information online. Last month, it released a video on the subject. In the video, she says, "While social networking websites can be a lot of fun, you have also to think about your privacy and safety." Users of social networking sites, she said, should "beware of the five Ps" - professors, prospective employers, parents, police and predators, all of whom use social networking information for their own purposes. Cavoukian says 77 per cent of all employers check out prospective employees on Facebook before they make hiring decisions. But she said predators are the worst of the five Ps because of the harm they can do to unsuspecting young people. "We want to make the issue front row centre. We want to arm people with information," she said. Speakers at the conference include Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne, Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly and U.S. author Barbara Coloroso. Consumer Headlines3rd death confirmed in listeriosis outbreakA third person in Ontario is confirmed to have died from listeriosis, federal health officials said Friday.Farmers pleased Monsanto is getting out of cow hormone businessA group of Ontario farmers is claiming victory after Monsanto Co. agreed to sell its Posilac brand of synthetic cow hormones to drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. for $300 million.Health Canada warns against two natural health productsHealth Canada is warning consumers not to use two unauthorized natural health products because they are not approved by its department and may cause serious negative health problems that could result in death.In cod we can't trust: DNA shows fish often mislabelled for saleMany consumers are being reeled in and are paying high prices for fish that has been mislabelled, according to a University of Guelph study.Petro-Canada gas shortage affecting up to 90 stations in B.C., AlbertaA problem at Petro-Canada's refinery near Edmonton has led to gas shortages or pumps running dry at as many as 90 stations in B.C. and Alberta, CBC News has learned. Consumer Life FeaturesIN DEPTHTravelWorld's Decadent Hotel AmenitiesECONOMYPrices on the riseInflation jumps again across most of CanadaSAFETYRecalls and Advisories- Bicycle pedals
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