The Internet has created a world of new opportunities!
It allows us to safely keep in touch with loved ones while we socially distance during COVID-19, it has been a vehicle for people to create business opportunities and innovations that have literally saved lives, heck- some of us have even met our significant others because of the Internet!
With the good, unfortunately, comes some bad. Not everybody has the best of intentions, and that shows in the numbers we’re about the present. It’s also important to note that, similar to the COVID-19 case numbers, a sign of rising numbers also means our justice system is figuring out the new crimes that come along with new technology.
Below is a table of 6 of the 26 Police- reported cyber crimes in Canada from 2016- 2018, as well as some more regionally-focused stats.
- Over $43 million in cyber crime reported in 2019.
- 776 Canadians reported losing a combined $23 million in romance scams in 2019; ~95% of romance scams go unreported.
- In 2018, 68% of Canada’s cyber crime victims were women.
- ~75% of Canada’s sexual violations cases (child luring, child pornography and voyeurism) remain unsolved.
- Police reported cyber crime in NL has increased by 87% between the years 2016 to 2018.
- Police reported cyber crime in St. John’s, NL has increased by 32% between the years of 2016 to 2018.
While our police force and justice system does its best to ensure justice is served and that we remain safe, it’s just as important that we are aware of the risks that come from using the Internet, and how we can mitigate those risks. And if you are a parent, it is important to ensure that you are educating and empowering your children to react properly to potential dangerous that lurk online.
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Don’t let these numbers scare you! There are so many things we can do to keep ourselves safe and secure, when we are online. In our Protecting Children Online campaign, we previously guided you through nine popular apps that children are using in 2020. We also discuss what parents need to know about live streaming, ways to secure your devices and social networks, and take a deep dive into emerging issues such as sextortion, luring, and cyberbullying – amongst other topics.
By the end of this, you will not only understand the risks, but know how to spot them, and how to talk to your children about it.
For more information about online safety, check out our online safety resources.
Are you an educator, or looking for a way to talk about bullying and online safety with your children? Check out our K-12 toolkits!