Safer Internet Day 2019 in Mexico: Information and disinformation in the digital age

The Institute of Transparency, Access to Public Information and Protection of Personal Data of the State of Mexico and Municipalities (Infoem) organised a conference "Information and Disinformation in the Digital Age" in the "Lic. Adolfo López Mateos" Campus of the Preparatory School of the Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEM).

Date 2019-03-01 Author Infoem, the Mexican Safer Internet Day Committee
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An adequate protection of personal data generates a positive impact on daily life, since it guarantees our integrity. Therefore, before surfing the internet, you have to put on your seatbelt, considering what data we share, how much they are worth and what repercussions your access has on third parties, as pointed out by Zulema Martínez Sánchez, President Commissioner of Infoem.

To mark the international celebrations of Safer Internet Day, Zulema Martínez Sánchez inaugurated the conference "Information and Disinformation in the Digital Era", accompanied by Eva Abaid Yapur and Javier Martínez Cruz, also Commissioners of Infoem, Camerino Juárez Toledo, Director of the "Lic. Adolfo López Mateos" campus of the preparatory school of the UAEM, and Andrés Pascoe Rippey, journalist and editorial director of digital media Cuestione.

Infoem Commissioner Eva Abaid Yapur began her address with the statement "A better internet starts with you: let's join together for a better internet", a slogan which more than 140 countries supported for the Safer Internet Day celebrations. She pointed out that one main concern related to online safety is data protection. Personal data, she emphasised, are as valuable as any material object that we protect with the greatest care. Therefore, it is necessary encourage and empower everyone to adopt good cyber hygiene practices.

Similarly, Infoem Commissioner Javier Martínez Cruz pointed out that the youth is a group that is highly affected by cybercrimes, because as internet users, they tend to share a large amount of information, which may entail more risks for their safety. He added that the best strategy to reduce this type of incident lies in prevention, which is why he called on students to inform themselves on this issue.

In his intervention, Andrés Pascoe Rippey explained that the content users upload and share online create a virtually indelible digital footprint, which allows third parties to identify the activities, preferences and ideas of millions of users in real time. Consequently, it is essential for everyone to review and adjust their privacy settings on electronic devices, applications and websites before using them, to decide how we share our personal data.

The Editorial Director of Cuestione added that, faced with the alarming proliferation of fake news, it is important, when reading a news report online, to review the source of the media, as well as to compare what different communication channels say on the topic, and to think critically.

For more information about the Infoem's activities as a Safer Internet Day Committee, read the full article (in Spanish) on infoem.org.mx and visit saferinternetday.org.

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