«The danger is in front of the device!»

On Friday, we invited parents to a seminar for the first time in the history of Fritz+Fränzi: High-calibre experts such as data protection expert Martin Hellweg and media lawyer Matthias Schwaibold came to answer parents' questions about how their children can surf the Internet safely.

Data protection expert Martin Hellweg dispelled many parents' hopes for a simple solution right at the start: «There is no programme that you can simply install and everything will be fine," he emphasised. He also emphasised that he did not want to show parents in the seminar how to change the security settings in an app or social networks. Because: "It could look completely different tomorrow! And I trust you all to google it and find the many instructions online.»
The data protection expert's main aim on Friday afternoon was to convey a certain mindset, a great deal of caution when it comes to one's own data. «The greatest danger is not in the device, but in front of it,» Hellweg is convinced. People make it too easy for data brokers, hackers and even vengeful ex-partners.
For example, when they are comfortable: «Every new device is a new opportunity,» says Hellweg. «Don't just copy your old computer to the new one, just copy your data. Only reload the programmes that you really need and check the current security regulations.»
In addition to convenience, the freedom with which people share their data is also problematic. And this is especially true for young people. Hellweg: "Teach your children to ask themselves every time whether they really need to post this picture now. Does the brief pleasure, the approval of others, really outweigh the long-term damage? Can I still stand by this picture when I apply for an apprenticeship?"

How do you create a really secure password? Martin Hellweg demonstrated his method in the seminar. His trick: 3 questions, intelligently combined. Read about it under tip 3 in our article.

Hellweg showed how easily data brokers can create very precise profiles of a person, including their sexual and political preferences. To do this, they use friends lists, analyse Facebook likes and programme seemingly harmless games such as «Which Smurf are you?»
At this point, the question that many people ask themselves was posed: «Is it so bad if data brokers know whether I am gay and that I smoke?» The next few slides provided the answer: it would be bad if the information was sold to health insurance companies, for example, and they could therefore put people on different tariffs. And, of course, nobody can predict where Switzerland will develop politically in the coming decades, whether it will always remain as tolerant as it is today.

Matthias Schwaibold impressively explains the right to one's own image: "If I don't react when Fritz+Fränzi photograph me so obviously, then I indirectly agree to it. But if I approach the photographer like that, it's a completely different story..."

In addition to the political system, the legal system is also constantly changing. Media lawyer Matthias Schwaibold gave an overview of this. It became clear that you have many options under civil law if you are attacked or hacked online. But only if you know who the perpetrator was. Criminal charges, on the other hand, can also be filed anonymously - although this often requires a more serious offence.
In addition, legal texts often leave parents a little perplexed, as Schwaibold points out. For example, the «capacity for action and judgement» of a child online is decided on a case-by-case basis. «If you're looking for an article that shows the age at which a young person can use a dating app like Tinder, for example, you'll search in vain.»

Data protection for children on the internet - 11 tips:

How do I protect my children on the internet? 11 tips for data protection experts Martin Hellweg