D7.7 Policy Briefs
Cybercrime poses threats to the safety and well-being of people across Europe. To tackle this pressing issue, we have prepared 10 policy briefs that analyse the problems affecting minors online worldwide from the different perspectives addressed in the project (i.e., human perspective, technological perspective, legal and ethical perspective, educational perspective, communications perspective, and data analysis perspective) , providing recommendations for solutions. These briefs cover online grooming, cyberbullying, human trafficking, misinformation, security and privacy concerns, problematic technology use, legal issues, education through gamification, effective awareness campaigns, and the insights on the considered cybercrimes coming from the analysis of the data gathered through the videogame. We identify factors that make minors vulnerable to these risks, such as isolation, weak family connections, and excessive internet usage. Furthermore, we examine offenders’ tactics, such as manipulation, coercion, and deceit. The briefs also shed light on the consequences of victims, including trauma, social challenges, and reluctance to report crimes. We highlight gaps in existing frameworks and prevention efforts while offering recommendations focusing on raising awareness through campaigns promoting literacy programs for young people’s safety online. We also emphasize the importance of stakeholders’ cooperation and nurturing critical thinking skills and resilience in minors. Additionally, we discuss how emerging technologies like AI can be harnessed while ensuring design standards and oversight.