Digital Safety in an Interconnected World

Tom Watson MP and Tanya Byron are joined by other international technology, legal and social experts to debate online safety, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, identity theft, fraud and other cybercrime against the individual.

Well-intentioned organizations, both government and industry funded, whilst building awareness are regrettably either unable or unwilling to support victimss

London (PRWeb UK) 16 June 2009 -- Former Cabinet Office Minister for Digital Engagement, Tom Watson MP will be joined by an international cast of legal, industry and social experts to review the growing impact of cybercrime against the individual during the Digital Safety Conference being held in London on Friday June 19th.

Lead speakers include Tanya Byron, author of The Byron Review, Ed Mayo, Chief Executive, Consumer Focus, Hamish Brown MBE, Consultant to the Home Office, Dr Richard Clayton, Security Research, Cambridge University, Jayne Hitchcock, President, WHOA and Spyros Pappas, Attorney at Law, Brussels Bar who are amongst an impressive line-up of participants in an event that is intended to challenge the current thinking on cybercrime.

Conference director and founder Graham Brown-Martin, himself a victim of cybercrime, said, "well-intentioned organizations, both government and industry funded, whilst building awareness are regrettably either unable or unwilling to support victims". Brown-Martin blames a lack of a coherent legal framework that is interoperable between different nation states and an unwillingness of industry players to break the status quo. "Put simply cyberspace is borderless our laws are not therefore a crime occurring across borders is almost impossible to prosecute through traditional enforcement channels. With initiatives such as Digital Britain this either has to change or we need to put health warnings on ISP packages, social media and other sites," He added.

Discussions will cover cyberbullying, cyberstalking, identity theft, fraud and other abuses that are increasing rapidly as more people enjoy the benefits of digital technologies including the Internet, social media, online gaming, e-commerce, mobile phones and location based services.

The 2008 UK statistics* for cybercrime make grim reading:

• 34 million UK citizens are online
• 500,000 cases of cyberstalking
• 2.25 million cases of online harassment
• 40% of identity theft facilitated online
• 260,000 cases of online fraud

An estimated 92% of UK Internet time being spent on non-UK sites suggests that a large percentage of these abuses are occurring across borders and as a consequence are not being prosecuted whilst the victim is having to face the result of identity theft, financial fraud or reputation damage.

Brown-Martin said "the financial impact of cybercrime has recently been valued at US $100 Billion per year, a figure that is larger than the worlds illegal drug trade. This has made for great headlines for those wishing to usher in a new wave of anti-privacy laws that crush civil liberties but the emotional cost of cybercrime attacks against the individual have yet to be tallied. My guess, given that we have already seen suicides, is that they will be higher still."

Stephen Carrick-Davies, advisory board member, said "there's a lot of talk in the
UK and other nations about online safety for children - but users of all ages need to feel secure in using new digital services. There needs to be more than talk, there needs to be action especially as new untried services and applications come on the market."

Proceeds from the conference will be donated to Victim Support.