As Cyberspace continues to evolve at a rapid pace, how can diverse stakeholders collaborate to ensure we maximize the opportunities it presents?

That was the central question at our recent ‘Meet GCF’ event in Brussels. Decision makers, diplomats, cybersecurity experts, and representatives from leading NGOs gathered in one of Europe’s main hubs of international collaboration and policymaking to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Cyberspace.

The event featured a panel discussion around the theme: ‘Collaborative Pathways: Transforming Cybersecurity Challenges into Strategic Opportunities Through Collaboration’. 

As Cyberspace evolves, so do its potential threats, and some people are more at risk than others.

“Cyberspace was created on the premise that everyone is equal. This is not true. Everyone is not equal – some are more vulnerable. Along the superhighway of Cyberspace, there is no shallow end of the swimming pool for children or for those who are vulnerable. Therefore, we need to look at solutions to protect those who are vulnerable in a cyber context,” says Professor Mary Aiken, Chair of the Cyberpsychology Department at Capitol Tech University, and one of the panelists.

How do we go about tackling this issue?

For Aiken, making legislation should take into consideration the complexities and inclusiveness of Cyberspace. She cites her work with the UK government as a positive example of this. “With the UK’s Online Safety Act, for the first time we’re seeing legislation that addresses the full spectrum of harms, ranging from cyberbullying through to misinformation and disinformation and on to cyber fraud. While we can’t prosecute our way out of the problem space, we can certainly have legislation that attempts to address vulnerability online and create a safer and more secure Cyberspace.”

Our other panelist, Iain Drennan, Executive Director of the WeProtect Global Alliance, stresses the importance of a holistic response: “Children today don’t see Cyberspace and real life as being separated, and I think we need to design our response in that way.” This approach involves listening to the vulnerable and engaging private sector players in defining the solutions.

By tackling the challenges – cyberbullying, misinformation and disinformation, exploitation – we open the door fully to the positive power of Cyberspace.

“Children have an array of opportunities to explore in Cyberspace, from educational tools to socializing and play. Every day, we see how children are using online tools to create films, talk to their friends, and learn. But they have to be able to take advantage of these in a safe way,” says Drennan.

Making Cyberspace a safe and enabling place for children is one of GCF’s key socioeconomic initiatives. The Child Protection in Cyberspace​ (CPC) Initiative aims to create a safe and empowering online experience for children globally by identifying risks in Cyberspace and raising awareness on the implications for children. Even more importantly, the GCF community aims to achieve this by uniting different stakeholders in the ecosystem, from the private sector to children’s support services, to schools and parents, and children themselves.

Turning the challenges associated with Cyberspace into opportunities is by necessity a global multistakeholder endeavour. “Whether you’re a developed or a developing nation, we are all sharing the same space - Cyberspace. This isn’t a national issue because we’re all in the same environment,” says Aiken.

By working together as a global community, we can more effectively combat cyber threats and establish a clear path to building prosperity, trust and resilience, not only for parents and children, but for everyone around the world.