House of Representatives Committees

Preliminary pages

Foreword

Cyber technology has developed dramatically in the last 20 years and the internet and other new communications technologies have infiltrated our lives in ways most of us would not have imagined only a few years ago. Australians are now communicating with government, business, family and friends, as well as shopping and banking, online. While many senior Australians may have been reluctant to venture into the cyber world initially, seniors are now the fastest growing online user group in the country.

Anyone who uses the internet is vulnerable to cyber security threats but the Committee found that seniors are particularly vulnerable for several reasons. In the words of Dr Helen Kimberley from the Brotherhood of St Laurence, senior Australians are ‘digital immigrants’ not ‘digital natives’ as young people are. Seniors have not grown up using the technology and, in the case of the older senior cohort, they did not even have the advantage of using computers in their work before retirement. Many seniors therefore have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to being ‘cyber savvy’.

Additionally, seniors are attractive targets for criminals because many seniors own substantial assets and have access to life savings and their superannuation. In many cases, seniors are looking for opportunities to invest their money, so they might be receptive to scams and fraudulent investment opportunities.

The Committee spoke to seniors who have enthusiastically embraced the internet and other communications technology, and who act safely online. However, the Committee also received a lot of evidence showing that there are many senior Australians who either are not using the internet at all, or are using it with caution, because they are afraid of becoming involved in cyber security issues. Additionally, many are now too embarrassed to admit to family and others that they have no knowledge of the internet and no idea how they would go about ‘getting online’. For these seniors, education and training will be their key to becoming cyber savvy and cyber safe.

Paradoxically, it is often the seniors who could most benefit from being online in their own home—that is, the geographically isolated or those who are housebound through disability or for other reasons—who have been left behind and are not yet online. Many of these seniors are hesitant to venture into the cyber world, if indeed they even knew how to do so.

The Committee found that there is a lot of help available for seniors who want to go online, particularly in the more populated parts of the country. Many seniors’ groups, public libraries and government departments around the nation are helping seniors start the journey towards being cyber savvy. Some seniors’ clubs are teaching computing with a cybersafety component and some also teach dedicated cybersafety courses. The Universities of the Third Age are experiencing very high demand for their computer courses. Public libraries around the nation are doing an impressive job of helping seniors to safely use email, smartphones, social networking and to access government sites and services. Over 2 000 Broadband for Seniors kiosks are located around the nation offering free internet access and training for seniors.

At the back of this report we have included a list of on-line resources which offer cybersafety advice and guidance. As a starting point I would advise seniors with cybersafety concerns to look at the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy’s Stay Smart Online webpage or the FaHCSIA Staying-Safe-Online website. The FaHCSIA website also has information about the Broadband for Seniors kiosks.

In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to the Committee’s Deputy Chair and my colleagues on the Committee. On behalf of the Committee, I would also like to thank the Secretariat for the enthusiasm and dedication they have shown to this inquiry. My thanks also go to everyone who sent in a submission, or appeared as a witness, either at a public hearing or at the round table in Hobart. Thanks also to each of the 536 seniors who took the time to complete the Committee’s online cybersafety for seniors’ survey. All of the information provided to the Committee was invaluable in the writing of this report.

The Committee has made 13 recommendations in this unanimous report, all of which we believe will improve cybersafety for senior Australians. As the report title suggests, the journey to help all seniors enjoy the benefits of being online while staying cyber-safe is a worthwhile one.

Senator Catryna Bilyk
Chair

Membership of the Committee

Chair

Senator Catryna Bilyk

 

Deputy Chair

Mr Alex Hawke MP

 

Members

Mr Michael Danby MP

Senator David Bushby

 

Ms Nola Marino MP

Senator Scott Ludlam

 

Mr Graham Perrett MP

Senator Stephen Parry

 

Ms Amanda Rishworth MP

Senator Louise Pratt

 

Mr Tony Zappia MP

 

Committee Secretariat

Secretary

Mr Russell Chafer (from 9/7/12)

 

Mr James Catchpole (until 9/7/12)

 

Mr David Monk (from 26/3/12 until 11/5/12)

Inquiry Secretary

Dr Cathryn Ollif (from 3/4/12)

  Ms Loes Slattery (until 27/3/12)
Research Officers Ms Loes Slattery (14/05/12 until 6/07/2012 and from 14 /12/2012)
Administrative Officers Ms Heidi Luschtinetz
  Mrs Dorota Cooley (from 23/7/12)
  Ms Michaela Whyte (until 20/7/12)

Terms of reference

The Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety shall inquire and report on the cybersafety of senior Australians, and make recommendations aimed at ensuring Australian law, policy and programs represent best practice measures for the cybersafety of senior Australians. Cybersafety for senior Australians includes issues of consumer protection, such as financial security and protecting personal information, and issues involving using social networking sites safely. In particular, the Committee shall inquire into:

  1. the nature, prevalence and level of cybersafety risks and threats experienced by senior Australians;

  2. the impact and implications of those risks and threats on access and use of information and communication technologies by senior Australians;
  3. the adequacy and effectiveness of current government and industry initiatives to respond to those threats, including education initiatives aimed at senior Australians; and
  4. best practice safeguards, and any possible changes to Australian law, policy or practice that will strengthen the cybersafety of senior Australians.

List of abbreviations

ABACUS

Australian Business Assessment of Computer User Security

ABS

Australian Bureau of Statistics

ACC

Australian Crime Commission

ACCC

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

ACFT

Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce

ACL

Australian Consumer Law

ACMA

Australian Communications and Media Authority

ADIs

Australian Deposit-taking Institutions

AFP

Australian Federal Police

AGIMO

Australian Government Information Management Office

A-Gs

Attorney–General’s Department

AHRC

Australian Human Rights Commission

AIC

Australian Institute of Criminology

AISA

Australian Information Security Association

ALIA

Australian Library and Information Association

AO

Officer of the Order of Australia

APPs

Australia Privacy Principles

ARC

Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation

ASCCA

Australian Seniors Computer Clubs’ Association

ASIC

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

ATO

Australian Tax Office

ATM

Automated teller machine

BPAY

Bill payment service

BSOL

Brisbane Seniors Online Association

CALD

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

CCI

Creative Industries and Innovation

C/CSPs

Carriers and carriage service providers

CDPP

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

CEO

Chief Executive Officer

CERT

Computer Emergency Response Team

CIS

Centre for Internet Safety

CLC

Communications Law Centre

CSOC

CWP

Cyber Security Operations Centre

Consultative Working Party

DBCDE

Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

DMARC

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance

DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions

EFTPOS

Electronic funds transfer at point of sale

FaHCSIA

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

FECCA

Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

HTCO

High Tech Crime Operations

ICT

Information and communication technologies

IIA

Internet Industry Association of Australia

ISP

Internet Service Provider

IT

Internet technology

LACVI

Life Activities Clubs Victoria Inc.

NBN

National Broadband Network

NEHTA

National E-Health Transition Authority

NSA

National Seniors Australia

NSIPC

National Security and International Policy Group

NSLA

National & State Libraries Australasia

OCS

Online Content Scheme

PA-DSS

Payment Application Data Security Standard

PCEHR

Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record

PDF

Portable Document Format (PDF) - Adobe Reader

PINs

Personal Identification Numbers

PTS

PIN Transaction Security

PM&C

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

PCI DSS

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards

SAT

Security Analysis Toolkit

SIR

Security Incident Response

SMEs

Small and Medium Enterprises

SOIF

Serious and Organised Investment Fraud

TIO

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

UTS

University of Technology, Sydney

U3A

University of the Third Age

VoIP

Voice Over the Internet Protocol

VMR

Vulnerability Management and Research

List of recommendations

2 How seniors use information and communication technologies

Recommendation 1

That the Australian Government investigates innovative ways of providing low cost internet connection to financially disadvantaged housebound and geographically isolated seniors who request it.

Recommendation 2

That an advertising campaign targeting seniors be devised to alert seniors  around the nation to the existence and location of the Broadband for Seniors kiosks.

Recommendation 3

That the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy prioritise including some cybersafety information on their website in languages other than English.

3 Cybersafety risks and threats for seniors

Recommendation 4

That the Australian Government develops, as a supplement to its  Web Guide, a web style guide prescribing the key elements of web design to ensure simplicity of language, visual clarity in design and logical navigation tools. This could be supported by graphical  step-by-step tutorials for use where applicable.

Recommendation 5

In support of the previous recommendation, the Committee also recommends that, in addition to conducting compliance audits based on the web style guide requirements, the Australian Government Information Management Office should offer an Annual Award for user friendly web design, in part based on public input on the utility of government websites.

Recommendation 6

That the Australian Government develops a centralised user friendly reporting and cybersafety awareness portal for all types of cybercrime with links to relevant regulators.

The site should feature a dedicated reporting tab, a seniors tab and be backed up by a telephone service which links individuals to appropriate victim support, training and other advice.

Recommendation 7

In support of the above, the Australian Government should investigate options for the contracting of appropriate non-government organisations or private organisations to provide support and advice to victims of online and technology related crime.

4 Cybersafety education and training for seniors

Recommendation 8

That the Australian Government advertise the Broadband for Seniors initiative widely, including:

  • Recommendation 9

    That the Australian Government work with the States and Territories to support public libraries or community resource centres where no public library exists, for the purpose of meeting the demand for cybersafety training for seniors.

    5 Consumer protection, regulation and enforcement

    Recommendation 10

    That Australian Government’s cyber awareness campaigns should headline clear and practical messages for cybersafety on the central reporting and awareness portal, and appear up front of all published cyber awareness material for the general community.

    Recommendation 11

    That the cybercrime reporting tab on the central reporting and awareness portal be designed for ease of access to users and to facilitate data collation and assessment. The system should be supported by simple online instructions and accessible to the visually and aurally impaired, and for print in hard copy.

    6 The role of industry

    Recommendation 12

    That the Australian Government establish a consultative working group, with wide stakeholder representation, to co-ordinate and promote government and industry partnerships and initiatives in support of a healthy and secure online environment.

    Recommendation 13

    That the proposed consultative working group should examine the effectiveness and promote awareness of relevant industry codes of practice, and make recommendations to governments at all levels on these matters.

    Navigation: Contents | Next Page

    Back to top

  • We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased people.