Coonan touts Microsoft as net protection ally

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:00

Opinion and Analysis

"Launched at Mont Albert Primary School in Melbourne on 24 October 2006, Think U Know will deliver interactive Internet safety training to Australian primary and secondary schools through a network of volunteers and school champions. This will provide teachers and parents with the vital and practical knowledge required for effective internet safety. NetAlert's CyberSafe Schools program range of interactive materials will form the core of the information available to schools...Think U Know builds upon NetAlert’s successful national expo, with the pilot program planned for April to July 2007 and the roll out to schools nationally planned for later in the year."

There's also a dedicated Think U Know web site (www.thinkuknow.com.au/) - which today's press release never mentioned. It suggests that the timetable has slipped somewhat. "The Think U Know internet safety program is currently planned to be delivered from 2008. It is proposed that the program will deliver interactive, face-to-face Internet safety training to parents, carers and teachers through Australian primary and secondary schools using a network of accredited trainers."

Certainly the concept is in its infancy. The site contains the caveat: "This is the Think U Know holding site and will be replaced by the complete website as the program develops."

It all sounds very commendable, but please Minister, what's new this week about Microsoft's involvement, and why is the initiative about a year behind schedule?

* The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) is made up of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre in the UK, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Department of Homeland Security and Interpol. Its aim is to build an effective, international partnership of law enforcement agencies that helps to protect children from online child abuse.