Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and State Senator Jason Pizzo (SD-38) released an infographic to promote common-sense consumer protection and privacy tools for social media and the internet.
Commissioner Fried and Senator Pizzo partnered on the project during National Consumer Protection Week to help bridge knowledge gaps in digital security. Many Americans understand the importance of cybersecurity, but frequently neglect to incorporate digital security best practices at home. According to Pew Research Center, an alarming “69 percent of online adults say they don’t worry about how secure their online passwords are.” The first step in combatting this challenge is basic education on the importance of cybersecurity best practices.
The infographic may be downloaded here and viewed here in Commissioner Fried’s tweet and Senator Pizzo’s tweet. The infographic’s tips include how to check privacy settings on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, how to choose a strong password, using caution with public WiFi networks, and securing one’s personal information and mobile devices.
“Staying safe on social media is in your hands! With news about ‘big tech’ everywhere, it’s a good time to take control of your social and digital footprint with some simple settings and tips,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Pizzo to share these online consumer tools to protect your privacy, data, and free speech.”
“These tips and tools will actually help Floridians stay safe from so-called ‘big tech issues’,” said Senator Jason Pizzo. “We can protect privacy and promote free speech online by helping social media users take a few simple steps to keep their online data secure.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is Florida’s state consumer protection agency, responsible for handling consumer complaints, regulating telemarketing, charities, and other businesses, protecting against unfair and unsafe business practices, and more. Last year, FDACS handled over 230,000 consumer complaints and inquiries, provided more than 600,000 consumers with consumer protection information, and returned over $2.7 million to consumers through mediations with businesses.
