The Internet Society, a global charity headquartered in Reston, Virginia, in the United States of America, and working to close the digital divide and advocate for a secure and open Internet, has developed an “Online Trust and Safety Hub”, a free online resource designed to help Internet users understand and respond to common digital threats, including online scams, false information, privacy risks, and security challenges.
The Hub, described by the Internet Society as a resource for “creating a safer, more secure Internet,” provides plain-language information intended to make digital safety knowledge accessible to everyone.
It emerged from a consultation undertaken in 2025 by the Internet Society with people across its community, asking what would help them most in their work to ensure everyone has a safe and secure experience online.
According to the Internet Society, “A major concern was that information is spread out all across the Internet, and that there needed to be a place that brought together the best resources to help people avoid scams and fraud, protect themselves online, keep their accounts and devices secure, and spot false information, including from AI (artificial intelligence) systems.”
It said that, as a result of the outcome of the consultation, it is “actively building” the Online Trust and Safety Hub website in collaboration with all members of its community.
The Hub is a useful resource for journalists, civil-society organisations, educators, and other Internet users, particularly as online scams, false information, and privacy threats continue to affect digital participation.
The Hub currently organises its resources around three principal areas, with the first, “Becoming Scam Strong,” providing information on online scams and helping users learn how to identify, prevent, and respond to fraudulent activity online.
The second, “Spotting False Information,” focuses on helping Internet users identify false information and understand how to prevent it from spreading, and is particularly pertinent to the growing challenge of information disorder and the rapid circulation of misleading content through digital platforms and social networks.
The third area, “Protecting Your Privacy and Security,” provides guidance on protecting personal information and staying secure online as it addresses a fundamental aspect of digital participation with increasing amounts of personal and sensitive information being shared, stored, and processed through Internet-based services.
The Internet Society says the Hub provides “free, plain-language digital safety resources for everyone”, signalling an emphasis on accessibility rather than limiting the information to cybersecurity specialists or technology professionals.
The use of plain language is potentially important for users with different levels of digital literacy, particularly those who may find technical cybersecurity terminology difficult to understand.
By presenting safety information in an accessible format, the Hub seeks to equip ordinary Internet users with practical knowledge for identifying risks and making safer decisions online.
The Hub is available online and includes sections on scams, false information, privacy, and security. Users can navigate the resources by topic or search the site for specific information.
The initiative provides journalists, educators, civil-society groups, and members of the public with an accessible resource for strengthening digital safety awareness and promoting more informed, secure participation in the Internet.
The Hub can be accessed at https://onlinesafety.internetsociety.org/.
