CYBERCRIME: DURING MILAN GAMES WEEK AT FIERA MILANO THE OPERATIONAL CENTRE FOR CYBER SECURITY POSTAL AND COMMUNICATIONS POLICE PROMOTES THE CORRECT USE OF THE WEB

Palermo: "By making our exhibition spaces available, we are aware that during events open to the public, we must also perform a social duty towards the community".

Milan, 18th November 2022 - The collaboration between Fiera Milano and the Operative Centre for Cyber Security Postal and Communications Police Lombardy finds its place inside the pavilions and among the stands of the new edition of Milan Games Week & Cartoomics 2022, the event organised by Fiera Milano, in collaboration with Fandango Club Creators, dedicated to videogames, esports, digital entertainment, geeks as well as to the world of comics and publishing where all pop culture enthusiasts are expected to attend, from 25 to 27 November.

Against this backdrop, the COSC in Milan will promote an awareness-raising campaign to combat the serious problem of the crime of online child pornography and will show the risks of surfing the net by providing the right solutions for the safety of web users. The aim of the presence of the Postal Police among the stands is to facilitate the confrontation between the experts in the field and the public of the event, composed mostly of young people, to make them aware of the tools at their disposal to protect themselves and face dangerous situations.

In 2021, 5,316 child pornography cases were dealt with by the COSC Postal Police, an increase of 47% compared to the previous year. The number of minors approached on the web by adults rose to 531, the majority of whom were under 13 years of age. Special focus on online video games. The growing interest of children and young people in these services has also led paedophiles to focus their attention on gaming platforms, exploiting their messaging services and offering the possibility of hooking minors more easily.

The presence of the COSC - the Postal Police - at trade fairs is the concrete continuation of the collaboration between the State Police and Fiera Milano, which last year signed an agreement for the prevention and combating of cybercrimes involving the information systems and services of Fiera Milano.

"This initiative consolidates the now structured cooperation relationship with the Operational Centre for Cyber Security Postal and Communications Police," comments Luca Palermo, CEO and General Manager of Fiera Milano. "Thanks to the invaluable presence of the State Police, we now want to make our exhibition spaces available because we believe that these aggregation events can become fundamental moments for raising awareness among children and families about a safer use of the web. We are aware that during these events open to the public, Fiera Milano must also perform a social task towards the community".

"The widespread use of digital devices among the youngest requires the strengthening of all measures aimed at protecting young victims of online crimes," explains Tiziana Liguori, Head of the Operational Centre for Cyber Security Lombardy. "Participation in the 'Games Week' event represents for the State Police a further opportunity for dialogue and discussion with young people, aimed at involving them in the opportunities that technological innovation offers, when it is accompanied by the right level of prudence and awareness in relation to the risks associated with it".