You Decide – A privacy campaign for primary schools

Status: Active
In progress from 01-11-2008 to 01-05-2009
Project manager: Kari Laumann
Keywords: Communication activity, IT & communication

The brochure "You decide... Thoughts and facts about protecting your personal data" was a huge hit among 16-17 year olds in Norway. An education package for children aged 9-12 is now in the making.

The initial campaign produced a pamphlet and supplementary short films to be used in schools, with 10th graders being the primary target group. 200.000 pupils from schools all over the country have received the brochure, and it is translated into eight languages.

Privacy for children aged 9-12
Our newest privacy project is aimed at stimulating debate and reflection on privacy issues among children aged 9-12.

Relevant questions are:

What can your teacher or your parents tell about you from the electronic traces you leave behind when surfing on the Internet?
Should surveillance cameras be set up anywhere?
What information is it ok to publish in your blog or on your web site - about your self and your peers - and what’s not?
Where are the limits for individuals’ responsibility for privacy protection on the Internet?

Project background
The privacy campaign for young people is a joint project by The Norwegian Board of Technology (Teknologirådet), The Data Inspectorate (Datatilsynet) and the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Utdanningsdirektoratet).

The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness and knowledge about privacy and promote conscious use of own and others' personal information on the internet and in society in general.

Moralising doesn't work
The material will be developed in close cooperation with teachers and pupils, researchers and privacy professionals. Instead of moralising the campaign encourages pupils to reflect and discuss by giving information, exercises and examples, and through small introductory films.

- It is important that children are aware of the possibilities and the dangers of navigating on the web. The You Decide campaign raises questions around children’s role as editors of their own, and others’, identity online. The campaign provides young people with tools to take control of their own privacy and actions on the net, says Tore Tennøe, Director at the Norwegian Board of Technology.

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