Canadian Ambassador sends 3 cyber safety messages to Vietnamese youth

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Jim Nickel. (Photo: Thu Trang)

In an interview with the press on the sidelines of the launching ceremony of the ThinkB4UClick program organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Jim Nickel sent a message to young people to promote their pioneering role in preventing fraud in cyberspace.

How does the Ambassador assess the importance of enhancing digital capacity for young people so that they can protect themselves in today's technological age?

I believe that it is extremely important for young people to use cyberspace properly. This is more urgent than ever, because in the current context, cyberspace and online space is becoming a complex and challenging environment, where there is misinformation, fraud, "cyber kidnapping" and potential risks of human trafficking.

Therefore, it is essential that today's youth can navigate the online environment, think critically, detect signs of risk and act appropriately.

Why did the Embassy of Canada choose to partner with IOM in the ThinkB4UClick initiative to enhance critical thinking and cyber resilience among youth?

Canada is pleased to partner with IOM in Vietnam on this unique initiative, which is a digital literacy training opportunity that builds the prevention capacity of young people, helping them protect themselves from online fraud, cyberbullying, and other forms of abuse that occur in the digital environment.

Canada’s support for the ThinkB4UClick initiative reflects our belief in the leadership role that youth can play in preventing fraud online. Through this program, young people not only learn to recognize and respond to online risks, but also become digital changemakers, using their voices and creativity to promote safe migration and build a healthier online community.

Đại sứ Canada gửi 3 thông điệp tới thanh niên Việt Nam

Canada’s support for the ThinkB4UClick initiative reflects our belief in the pioneering role of youth in preventing fraud in the digital space. (Source: IOM)

On this occasion, what message would you like to send to young people to help them be more aware of their online safety?

I have three messages to send to Vietnamese youth:

First , be alert and careful. Not everything you see online is true. There is a lot of misinformation, traps and scams online. So, think before you click, evaluate whether the information is reliable, where it comes from and use critical thinking to analyze all information on the internet.

Second , protect yourself and others. Your presence in cyberspace is extremely important. Do not let your digital information be exploited. Be careful to protect personal information because it is very easy to exploit and misuse by bad people. In addition, protect the privacy and dignity of others. Do not share anyone's information without permission. It is important to protect your own personal information and the personal information of everyone around you.

Third, use your voice online for good. You can be a positive influencer, you can help your community, you can make positive changes, you can bring hope for the future and spread good things in life. So I hope you will take action to take advantage of cyberspace to develop your own capacity, contributing to building a digital ecosystem that protects dignity, rights and opportunities for everyone.

Vietnam has just hosted the Opening Ceremony and High-Level Meeting of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime ( Hanoi Convention). Could you share your thoughts on this event?

Dealing with cybercrime requires international cooperation, a joint effort of the whole world , and Vietnam has connected this joint effort by hosting the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. This is a very important pillar in the international space to maintain the international order based on rules.

For Canada and all our partners in this Convention, one of our priorities is to address cybercrime – a global problem that impacts communities and vulnerable people around the world.

This is not only an international or national issue but also a matter of human rights. Human rights and dignity are being seriously violated by cybercrime: people are being bought and sold, people are being scammed... And often the victims are the most vulnerable in society, especially teenagers, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and those who do not have enough digital skills to protect themselves.

So I think the Opening Ceremony and the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime hosted by Vietnam brings about invaluable international cooperation in cracking down on cybercrime, so that people are no longer subjected to scams, cyberbullying, misinformation and online exploitation.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

“Digital literacy is no longer a privilege, it is a shield. With more than 50% of human trafficking now taking place online, equipping young people with the skills to ‘think before you click’ will make the difference between safety and exploitation.” (Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Jim Nickel)