April Fools’ Day: Belgium introduces ‘mandatory cyber driving license’

As you probably know, Tuesday was April Fools’ Day. The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) used the opportunity to introduce a “mandatory cyber driving license” that would be required to access the internet.

The measure was allegedly part of a new cyber strategy, which aims to make Belgium one of the least vulnerable countries in Europe to phishing and other digital threats.

In order to access and use the internet, users would have to pass an online test to demonstrate their cybersecurity skills and knowledge. Participants who pass the test would then receive a cyber driving license that would be mandatory for accessing email services, social media, and online banking.

There would be three types of cyber licenses: type A for private users (social media, email, and online shopping), type B for entrepreneurs with a webshop, and type C for IT professionals in the public sector. Users are trained in essential digital skills, including recognizing phishing messages, using and activating two-factor authentication (2FA), and avoiding common pitfalls online.

Those who failed the test three times would be temporarily denied access to the internet and placed under the supervision of a cybersecurity guardian.

“Just as you need a driving license to safely participate in traffic, it is important that everyone learns to assess the dangers of our digital traffic. Unfortunately, too often we still see people unknowingly fall victim to phishing. With this driving license, we want to tackle that in a positive, preventive way,” Miguel De Bruycker, Director General of the CCB, said in a fake statement.

Putting fun and jokes aside, the CCB’s intentions are genuine. People fall victim to some form of phishing almost every day. Mentioning a so-called cyber driving license keeps people sharp and on their feet.

“The message seemed implausibly absurd, and it was meant to be. It was about an April Fools’ joke that makes you laugh first and think afterward,” Belgium’s cybersecurity advisory institution Safeonweb said in a response.

“The cyber driving license does not exist, but the idea that we all need to become better at dealing with digital dangers? There is something to that. Every year, thousands of Belgians fall victim to phishing, malware, or online fraud. And many people still do not know how to protect themselves online,” Safeonweb says about the importance of this particular April Fools’ joke.

To protect yourself from phishing, be vigilant of unsolicited emails and text messages, talk about it with people close to you, and never give out personal or financial information if you don’t trust it.

Do you think the idea of a “mandatory cyber driving license” is absurd? Cybernews has found several other crazy April Fool’s jokes on social media.