In an effort to enhance aspects of cooperation between the Information Technology Authority (ITA) and various governmental, private and non-governmental entities to spread cyber security awareness among the individuals of Omani society, ITA recently participated in a symposium entitled Towards a Secure IT Environment.

Organized by the Omani Social Workers Association, as part of the Salalah Tourism Festival 2012, Dr. Hussain Said Al Ghafri, Legal Advisory at ITA, presented a keynote speech which discussed concerns regarding electronic communication in cyberspace.

This symposium aims to increase the awareness of the key issues that society faces in accordance with contemporary life's developments and due to the misuse of modern technology. Recently, by the use of forums and other different communication tools on the internet, a number of offensive writings and phrases have emerged. Such comments negatively affect the system of work and are insult some individuals in the country, without relying on any evidence.

These offensive writings also do not reflect the nature of Omani society and its commitment to cherished values, norms, traditions and customs. From this point of view, ITA's participation in this symposium represents the significance of educating the society about the legal status of writing in cyberspace and informs individuals how they may be subject to legal accountability, as determined by Omani laws concerned with the cyber security and electronic communications.