Responding to digital incidents
Find out how you can take effective steps to respond to a digital incident to minimise harm.
Incident Support
Knowing how to respond to a digital incident and what first steps to take is essential to reducing further harm and minimising distress. You can report online issues such as online harassment, bullying and abuse to Netsafe. The team will review your report and give you advice and information. If you are concerned about the immediate safety of you or someone else, please call 111 immediately.
Learn more(/incident-support/responding-to-digital-incidents)
Reporting digital incidents
Did you know that schools can file a report on behalf of a student? Learn more about what's involved.
Legislation and regulations
Find out which legislation, regulations and guidelines related to cyber safety and security are relevant in the school environment.
What is a digital incident?
Examples of incidents range from school fights being recorded, cyber bullying, intimate image sharing, privacy breaches of staff and incitement to self-harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the following frequently FAQs don't answer your question please contact us on 0508 NETSAFE 0508 638 723.
It is preferable that you have consent from the student before contacting us, but you can still contact us without their consent.
You should talk with your students and community regularly about the importance of appropriate behaviour online. A common consequence may include us contacting them directly to request they remove content, but there are potential criminal avenues for the most serious of offences.
You can contact us without informing families if you need advice that will help you respond to an incident. Whānau and caregivers are important partners in responding to and managing incidents involving their young people. Schools will have their own processes for involving families/whānau when incidents occur and should be guided by these.
You can contact us for advice to support you to manage any kind of online incident. As well as helping to remove harmful content, we can provide broad advice so you can engage with the right people, communicate to families and manage the complexity of a situation.
You can also contact the helpline for preventative support in answering your questions, too.
If a staff member is affected by content online, encourage them to contact us directly. Schools should follow their own processes and Ministry of Education guidelines to help you maintain staff wellbeing and safety.
Call us toll free on 0508 NETSAFE or complete an online contact form.
Our call centre is open 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am – 5pm on weekends.