By DisabilityNewsGH
Persons with disabilities have been advised to be extra vigilant not to fall victims to hackers and spies.
A data Protection Officer at Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH), Mr. Emmanuel Gadasu says persons with disabilities, like everyone else, have the responsibility to protect their privacy.
He advises them to be careful about how they give out information about themselves to both individuals and organisations; adding that, they must always ask and be sure of the purpose for which their personal data are being sought.
He says, the same care much be taken when engaging in online transactions.
Mr. Dagasu also cautions against clicking on just any link at all they receive on their smartphones.
He explains that, some of such links, especially those that often promise gifts and tempting packages come from hackers, and clicking and filling in whatever personal information that may be required would be providing criminals with information that could be used against them.
Even though everyone at all could fall victim to hackers and spies, it has been observed that the blind in particular could be more vulnerable, especially those of them who do not have screen reader soft wares on their phones to help them detect the sources of links sent to them.
Mr. Emmanuel Gadasu, therefore, wants them to be careful about the use of social media platforms and how they put out information about themselves.
Mr. Gadasu gave the admonition in an interview with DisabilityNewsGH on the sideline of a 2-day Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), organised by Paradigm Initiative in collaboration with Inclusive Tech Group and Internet Society Ghana, on April 25 and 26, 2022, in Accra.
The theme for the event was “Towards a Digitally Inclusive and Right-Respecting Africa/Ghana”
Executive Director of Inclusive Tech Group, Dr. Millicent Agangiba says, as Ghana, like other countries of the world embarks on a digitalisation drive, it is important to ensure that no one is left behind. And to also ensure that the rights of the citizens regarding their personal data are protected.
She notes that, even though Ghana has passed a data protection law, there are some gaps that need to be addressed.
“We want Ghana become a digital economy but while doing that, we want to see (that) everybody is included, especially the marginalized; talk of people in the rural communities, talk of persons with disabilities who are mostly put in the poverty bracket. We want to see what is going to happen to them when we’re going fully digital”, she adds.
The forum will be putting together a comprehensive report that captures the gaps, boundaries and direction as to what Ghana needs to do as a nation that respects the rights of all, including persons with disabilities, and would be shared with relevant stakeholders and implementing bodies for action.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH