Laws for cyberbullying and harassment There is no legal definition of cyberbullying in U. Australia laws for cyberbullying and harassment Australia are yet to develop a law directly combatting cyberbullying but most forms of cyberbullying can be prosecuted under one of the following punishable crimes.
Stalking Harassment Unauthorized access Defamation If someone is encouraging or pressuring someone to commit suicide, it is a very serious breach of Australian law and the perpetrator can face up to life in prison. Ireland laws for cyberbullying and harassment Ireland has developed some new laws to combat cyber-crime. Cyberbullying is punishable under the following laws: Intentional victim shaming.
This law includes the sharing or distributing of sexually explicit or intimate images of another person without their permission to do so. The Cybersmile Foundation is one of our main partners worldwide.
Their feedback and support have been instrumental to us as we have continued to grow. And, in some states bullying appears in the criminal code of the state and applies to juveniles. Consequently, cyberbullying laws vary significantly, with some states having much more stringent requirements than others. For instance, they must:. Meanwhile, Ohio's cyberbullying legislation, called the Jessica Logan Act, is also extensive. The law was introduced after Logan was cyberbullied, harassed, and intimidated by her peers when a nude picture of her was circulated at her high school.
Logan committed suicide shortly after the photo was distributed at her school. In response, Ohio's law requires districts to expand their existing anti-bullying policies to cover incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying that occur both online and on school buses. It also specifies that a district's anti-bullying policies must indicate that students could be suspended for engaging in bullying or cyberbullying. The law also requires schools to offer anonymous reporting mechanisms, as well as strategies for protecting the person who reported the incident from retaliation.
Finally, Ohio requires its districts to develop age-appropriate ways to educate students about their anti-bullying policies and the consequences for violating the policies. They also are required to train all their teachers, administrators and staff on anti-bullying policies as well as submit written summaries of all reported incidents and post them on its website for the public to read.
To make comparisons among these state laws easier, the U. Department of Education developed a framework of the common components that are found in state laws, policies, and regulations. They used this framework to understand how schools were taking action to prevent and respond to bullying incidents.
Some common components include policy statements, safeguards, staff training, and consequences. Additional information about the New York and Ohio policies, as well as other state cyberbullying laws is available at StopBullying. Because the laws vary significantly from state to state, the penalties for cyberbullying are also wide-ranging. Depending on the state and its cyberbullying laws, the penalties for cyberbullying could range anywhere from civil penalties like being suspended or expelled from school to jail time for some felonies.
For instance, in Florida cyberbullying laws direct schools to discipline the students by suspending them or expelling them. Meanwhile, in Missouri, cyberbullies who make violent threats through social media or other electronic means may be charged for a criminal offense.
Additionally, there are naturally occurring consequences for cyberbullying. For instance, cyberbullies may find themselves in court, lose their job, or even get arrested. What's more, kids and adults need to realize that what is posted online stays online. Even if something is deleted, people may have taken a screenshot of it. As a result, just because kids delete something does not mean that it goes away. It is also not uncommon for potential employers and college admission officers to search social media platforms.
And for many teens, what they have learned is what might have been funny at the moment quickly becomes tomorrow's embarrassment. What's more, the courts have already ruled that there is no such thing as privacy online.
There have been a number of high profile cyberbullying cases in the news where offenders have faced criminal charges. Perhaps the most significant of these cases involves a year-old Massachusetts teen who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for texting her year-old boyfriend, urging him to continue along with his plan to commit suicide.
As he was pumping carbon monoxide into his car in a store parking lot, he got out when he started to feel ill. Instead of supporting his decision, the year-old girlfriend texted him telling him he needed to get back in the truck and follow through with his plan. She also did not call the police or his family and made no efforts to stop him. Consequently, a Massachusetts judge found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
As schools, communities, and law enforcement become more adept at identifying cyberbullying , cases like this one may increase. In the meantime, advocates are pushing for more involvement from the federal government.
They believe that schools need clear guidelines on how to reduce cyberbullying while promoting respect and kindness. Cyberbullying is a serious issue that is continuing to grow.
For this reason, parents need to be diligent about instilling digital literacy and etiquette. Meanwhile, kids need to realize that if they are angry or feeling emotional that they should not post about it. Likewise, venting should be done offline to a trusted friend or in a private journal. Regardless of privacy settings, kids should be very careful about what they post online. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy.
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