What You Need to Know
On Safer Internet Day, Mauritius’ Minister of Information Technology urged students to use social media responsibly and be aware of digital risks. The event featured workshops, an AI competition, and initiatives to protect children online. Emphasizing the importance of digital literacy, the government plans to enhance regulations and support families with free internet access.
Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul, urged students to adopt a judicious and responsible approach to the use of social media and to enhance their awareness of the risks associated with the digital space.
He was speaking today at the opening of a one-day workshop held at the Paul Octave Wiéhé Auditorium in Réduit, organised in the context of Safer Internet Day.
The event was attended by the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon; the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad; the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Lisa Simrique Singh; and the Officer-in-Charge of CERT-MU, Dr Kaleem Usmani.
The agenda also included an awareness campaign featuring a video presentation on the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the launch of an AI competition focused on road safety, and the introduction of Child Online Protection Packages aimed at promoting a safer digital environment for children.
In his address, Minister Ramtohul highlighted the various threats that children face online, including cyberbullying, hacking, phishing, scams, fraud, exposure to pornographic content, and sextortion. He emphasised the importance of strengthening enforcement mechanisms to better protect internet users, particularly children, and urged them to exercise greater caution when navigating the digital space.
“The social, mental and physical well-being of the youth will determine the future of the country”, he said, underlining the need to educate young users to engage with technology responsibly, critically, creatively, and respectfully. He further announced that the Government will introduce clearer regulations and a more adapted legal framework to protect citizens from the harmful effects of social media. Consultations with major platforms, including TikTok and Meta, will also be conducted as part of these efforts, stated the Minister.
Referring to the Government’s vision to positioning Mauritius as a regional leader in AI, Dr Ramtohul informed that families registered under the Social Register of Mauritius will benefit from free internet access as the “Internet Gratis” scheme officially enters its operational phase. He also emphasised the growing importance of digital identity and digital rights to better protect internet users, adding that a set of guidelines governing the use of AI will also be launched this month.
For her part, Ms Singh underlined that Mauritius is experiencing a rapidly evolving digital landscape, bringing both new benefits and risks associated with internet use. She noted that the increased reliance on the internet and digital platforms has heightened vulnerabilities, particularly for women, girls, and young people. In this context, she emphasised the need to strengthen vigilance, promote digital literacy, and implement robust protective measures.
Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, especially among children and young people. Initiated in 2004, it aims to raise awareness about the importance of digital safety and the potential risks associated with internet use. In Mauritius, the government is actively working to enhance digital literacy and protect vulnerable groups in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Recent initiatives include workshops and campaigns focused on responsible internet use and the introduction of protective measures for children.
