In an era of accelerated digitisation, online safety has become a major concern for both authorities and educational/cultural institutions. Thus, in February 2025, the National Library of the Republic of Moldova (NLRM) celebrated Safer Internet Day 2025, which aligns with the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education, an initiative launched by the Council of Europe.

On this occasion, the Pro-European Center for Services and Communication (CPESC) of the NLRM organised a series of events aimed at promoting a safe and responsible digital environment for all users, with a special focus on children and young people.

In this context CPESC inaugurated the exhibition “Digital Citizenship Education” offering the public access to educational resources and materials on online safety, and the digital skills necessary for contemporary society. The exhibition served as a starting point for a series of interactive sessions for pupils, students, and teachers, focusing on essential topics related to online security and digital education.

One such session, entitled “Relationships within the Online Environment: Trust, Challenges, and Real Dangers,” was dedicated to students and organised in collaboration with expert Victoria Gribinet, coordinator of educational activities at the International Center “La Strada,” the official representative of Safer Internet Day in the Republic of Moldova. The session aimed to raise awareness about the risks associated with online relationships and to provide strategies for protecting oneself, ensuring a safe and positive digital experience. Students from Heritage International School, actively participated in interactive discussions on building online relationships, the challenges and risks encountered, and real-life situations. They also analysed potential dangers of virtual interaction.

Another session, “Online Safety: Bullying and Cyberbullying,” aimed to raise awareness among young people about the risks of online aggression and preventive measures. Natalia Ghimpu, media literacy trainer at NLRM, led the discussions, providing tools and strategies for identifying and combating bullying behaviours within the digital environment. The participants – students from Waldorf School, learned about the importance of empathy, mutual respect, and reporting cyber bullying incidents to help create a safer online space.

The impact and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) were addressed in two sessions: “Ethics of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Educational Process” and “Digital Security and Artificial Intelligence.”

The first session, dedicated to educators from different Moldovan institutions, focused on the impact of AI in education. Artificial intelligence expert Denis Zacon from “AI SKILLS” presented current perspectives on the integration of AI in the educational process and discussed the ethics of using these technologies in schools and other educational institutions.  The participants explored ways to implement new technologies in teaching, while ensuring a safe and ethical learning environment for students.

The second session, held in collaboration with the Institute for Education and Public Security (IESP) and moderated by Natalia Spinu, an expert in e-GA cyber security, Director of the European Institute for Policy Studies of Moldova, and Governor for Responsible Artificial Intelligence of Moldova within the Global Council for Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

Expert gave students from Lyceum „Spiru Haret”, the opportunity to understand how AI works, how personal data is collected and processed, and what measures they can take to navigate safely in the digital environment.

The events benefited from the support of several national and international organisations, including the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the Council of Europe office in Moldova, and various NGOs specialised in cyber security. These collaborations facilitated access to up-to-date educational resources and enabled the development of impactful activities for the general public.

By organising Safer Internet Day 2025, the National Library of the Republic of Moldova reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a safer internet and digital education, contributing to the formation of an informed and responsible society in the online environment. The initiative helped raise awareness of cyber risks and promoted the responsible and ethical use of technology. In a world where the internet plays an essential role in education, communication, and information, such events are more necessary than ever.

Safer Internet Days at the NLRM provided a valuable opportunity for users of all ages to learn how to navigate safely in the digital space. Collaboration with national and international partners in the fields of media education and cyber security strengthened efforts to create a friendly and protected digital space for all users.

More details: https://t.ly/MvRbn

Exhibition “Digital Citizenship Education”: https://shorturl.at/YhWzj

Author: Gulco Natalia

Editor and translator: Kiriakov Mariana