Opposition calls for vigilance in sharing information via social media

WESTERN BUREAU:

Opposition spokesman on Science and Technology, Julian Robinson, has warned that great care must be taken when sharing sensitive information on the many videoconferencing options on social media.

There has been a sharp increase in the use of social media platforms since the emergence of COVID-19 that has closed down world economies, forcing millions to work from home and homeschool their children.

“It is a risk, and it is about managing the risk. I think the usual care should be taken in all electronic communications as they are susceptible to hacking, whether it is an email, WhatsApp, or videoconferencing apps,” said Robinson, in a telephone interview on Friday. “It’s also about determining the level of confidential information that you share in these meetings online. That’s the critical issue here.”

Hackers hijack lesson

Robinson was speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, following reports that Singapore suspended the use of Zoom for online education after hackers hijacked a school lesson and showed obscene images to students.

When pressed as to whether Jamaica’s risk management capability for online meeting platforms is adequate to protect users, Robinson said that it would depend on the individual groups. “It’s hard to answer that question across the board, because it varies by each organisation. My advice would be to limit and manage the level of confidential and sensitive information shared on these platforms,” argued Robinson.

The Zoom app has become very popular among Jamaican business operations as the local authorities seek to establish strategies to reduce the spread of the disease, such as social distancing.

The Gleaner sought a comment from Dr Grace McLean, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, who said that she was not in a position to respond to the issue. “I really would not be able to respond to that, as no incident has been reported to me. I would have to research it and get back to you,” she said.

On March 30, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned Zoom users to avoid making their meetings public following multiple reports of teleconferences and online classrooms being disrupted by hackers who displayed hate messages or shouted profanities.