NEW DELHI: To shield children from cyber fraud, teachers from 42 Air Force schools have received training to act as first responders to protect students from online exploitation and artificial intelligence-related financial fraud, officials said on Monday.




In the era of affordable high-speed internet, smart devices and access to social media, school-going children are extensively exposed to unregulated digital spaces primarily designed for adults. Through the ‘ScrollControl’ initiative, Air Force schools will be able to form cyber clubs, certify students on cyber safety, conduct awareness sessions for parents and staff, access an age-appropriate content rating platform for families, and be recognised as cyber-safe schools, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.




At least “261 teachers of 42 Air Force schools have undergone a certification course as cyber crime intervention officers to protect children from online grooming and exploitation, misuse of artificial intelligence, gaming-related harms and financial frauds, also enabling them to preserve digital evidence and to act as first responders,” the ministry said.




Spearheading the initiative to build cyber safety capability within the Air Force schools’ community, Indian Air Force Educational and Cultural Society under the aegis of Air Headquarters onboarded Air Force schools across the country onto ‘ScrollControl’, a comprehensive child digital safety programme through the Information Sharing and Analysis Centre Foundation (ISAC). The initiative coincides with the observance of the national cyber security awareness month.




To ensure the safety of school children in cyberspace, CBSE has directed affiliated schools to incorporate cyber safety best practices through the monthly observance of ‘Cyber Jagrookta Diwas’, it said. The ‘ScrollControl’ initiative enables Air Force schools to align with this requirement with trained in-house capability.




“The training and certification of teachers, their empanelment on the National Security Database, and 24x7 victim support through a multi-disciplinary ecosystem of cyber lawyers, cyber psychologists and forensic experts are being provided under this programme through ISAC Foundation,” it said.