Cybersecurity is no longer a purely technical issue concerning only IT professionals. It has become a critical field of education, prevention and social responsibility. In today’s complex and constantly evolving environment, the role of technology and software companies is crucial, as they can contribute to shaping a new digital culture that is secure, resilient and robust for today’s students and tomorrow’s citizens.

In this context, the Association of Hellenic Information Technology Enterprises (SETPE) actively supported the organisation of the “Safe Web, Strong Future!” event, which took place on Monday, 23 March 2026, at the “I. Vellidis” Conference Centre, with the participation of more than 1,000 secondary school students from the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki.

The initiative was organised by the Deputy Regional Governor for Digital Governance of the Region of Central Macedonia, in cooperation with the Regional Directorate of Education of Central Macedonia, with the participation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Cyber Crime Division. It was also supported by Google’s cybersecurity education programme.

Through evidence-based presentations, interactive sessions and real-life examples, students had the opportunity to learn about safe internet use, personal data protection, the identification of digital threats and, more broadly, the importance of cultivating responsible digital behaviour from an early age. The main conclusion was clear: at a time when online threats are becoming increasingly complex and are often concealed behind a veil of anonymity, strengthening young people’s digital literacy is an imperative.

n his address, SETPE Board Treasurer Alexis Papadimitriou underlined that the Association of Hellenic Information Technology Enterprises, as the collective representative body of the most innovative new technology companies, supports initiatives that contribute to shaping “a digital society built on responsibility, vision and knowledge”. Addressing the students, he highlighted two key points: on the one hand, the significant career opportunities offered by the IT sector, driven by high demand and the shortage of specialised human capital; and on the other hand, the ongoing responsibility that accompanies every digital action. As he noted, every online activity leaves a digital footprint that cannot be erased, while every post, share and action in the public digital space requires thought and awareness.

The Deputy Regional Governor for Digital Governance of the Region of Central Macedonia, Nikos Tzollas, highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative, noting that “children’s safety online is everyone’s responsibility”. As he emphasised, the Region is consistently investing in the new generation by strengthening students’ digital skills and contributing to the development of a new and robust digital literacy framework, which is a key prerequisite for the future.

The event featured presentations by Panagiotis Katsaros, Professor of Informatics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Andreas Symeonidis, Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at AUTH, and Eva Evangelou, representative of the Cyber Crime Division.

Particular interest was generated by the participation of influencer DK (Dimitris Kyrsanidis), who spoke the language of young people, drawing on his own experiences from his strong presence on social media. In a direct and accessible manner, he addressed the risks emerging in the digital environment, the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the content consumed by users, as well as the need for young people to learn how to distinguish between what is real and what is fabricated, so that they can navigate the world of social media with greater critical thinking and less naivety.

In his brief intervention, Sotiris Karagiannis, Chief Innovation Officer of Space Hellas, highlighted the importance of the initiative in raising students’ awareness of safe internet use. The company, which is a member of SETPE, supported the event as its sponsor.

The “Safe Web, Strong Future!” event confirmed that creating a secure digital everyday environment for young people requires constructive synergies among educational institutions, local authorities, the academic community and technology companies. To achieve this goal, SETPE will continue to support initiatives that empower the younger generation with knowledge, responsibility and digital awareness.