The global Internet Society has launched a new initiative, Safer Internet Initiative, aimed at strengthening online safety and building greater trust in the internet. The initiative will run from 2026 to 2029, with the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation planning to invest more than $40 million in related programs during this period.
A key focus of the initiative is to strengthen people’s digital safety skills. As part of this effort, a multilingual online resource hub will be developed, offering educational materials and practical tools to help users identify online threats and protect themselves from them.
The initiative will also address the growing challenge of online fraud. Planned activities include developing tools and educational programs to help people recognize and prevent scams, providing training and supporting local initiatives. These programs will be tailored to the linguistic and cultural needs of different communities.
The Internet Society emphasizes that online safety is particularly critical for vulnerable groups, civil society organizations and journalists. To address these needs, the initiative will support organizations working to protect high-risk communities and strengthen their digital security capabilities.
According to the Internet Society, 66% of the 14,800 respondents who participated in Microsoft’s 2025 global survey reported encountering various online threats. Against this backdrop, the new initiative seeks to frame online safety not simply as an individual responsibility, but as a shared challenge that requires collective action to create a safer and more trustworthy internet for everyone.
