Earlier this month, SWGfL was proud to support the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in delivering a series of Child Online Protection (COP) training sessions in Malta, strengthening the nation’s response to online risks faced by children.
The engagement began with a Train the Trainer programme hosted by the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and The Malta Trust Foundation. This initiative empowered local professionals to become trainers themselves, building long-term capacity to respond to emerging online threats.
Following this, a dedicated training for the Malta Police Force took place on 10th October, led by ITU experts David Wright CBE and Boris Radanović from SWGfL and the UK Safer Internet Centre. The full-day session focused on the most pressing online harms, including:
- Grooming, sexual exploitation, and sextortion
- Cyberbullying and harmful content
- Misinformation, and identity fraud
- Persuasive design and excessive screen time
- The growing risks of artificial intelligence, including deepfakes and AI-generated CSAM
The course also explored international legal frameworks, and encouraged participants to discuss real-world scenarios and share practical solutions.
We were delighted to support ITU and Malta’s institutions in strengthening their expertise and preparedness to protect children online. Through initiatives like this, Malta is building a foundation of knowledge and skills that will protect children from online risks both now and in the future.
