CybersmartBW is a public education programme that began in Botswana in 2020 to promote digital literacy through public awareness initiatives on digital/cybersecurity and digital economy development. The objective of the programme to promote responsible, safe and meaningful use of digital technologies, mainly the internet. The campaign was initiated by InFuture Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes positive societal change through media campaigns. The organisation has partnered with organisations such as Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority(BOCRA) , Universal Access Service Fund(UASF), European Union, Cyber4Dev, and Botswana National Youth Council, among others. The Initiative was developed upon realisation that as societies increasingly adopt the use digital technologies for everyday life activities, exposure to cyber threats has been on the rise. The programme therefore works to sensitise internet users on cyber security threats as they emerge and pose danger to users and data as well as on productive and fruitful means of digital technology use. This is with the aim of preventing harms from such threats as online scams and fraud, account and devise hackings, identity theft, human trafficking, children’s rights violations and misinformation, among others. The Foundation develops and runs educational messages about these threats on mediums such as web(including social media) radio, television, newspapers, posters and fliers. Expertise is also shared regularly through news commentary on various news mediums.
