Safe Surfing

Safe Surfing was a project developed by Inclusion Europe together with four member organisations — Mencap, Anffas, Plena Inclusion and PSOUU — to train people with intellectual disabilities on data protection and safe online behaviour. It responds to a context where identity fraud, cybercrime and cyberbullying affect all internet users but pose particular risks for people with intellectual disabilities, who can face difficulty giving valid legal consent, understanding redress mechanisms, or becoming identifiable as vulnerable through their use of easy-to-read information.

To give people with intellectual disabilities the personal support and knowledge needed to use the internet and share information with others safely.

The training consisted of five interactive online sessions of around 30 minutes each, covering what personal data is and how to protect it, the dangers of the internet, mobile devices and apps, how to protect yourself on Facebook, and what to share online. Participants received materials before and after each session and could contact the trainer directly with questions before, during and after each module.