Cyber-bullying and the law: Are we doing enough?

Cyber-bullying, the act of using the internet to denigrate, demean or harass a person, is becoming more and more prevalent. Cyber-bullying is a particular cause for concern in that, unlike regular bullying, it can be effected 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Furthermore, the bully can engage in the behavior with a degree of anonymity. This relatively new form of bullying brought about by the internet has posed an interesting problem for the members of the judiciary. Some believe that the current laws are sufficient to deal with the problem and that enacting further laws may impinge on a person's freedom of speech. Others, however, believe that technology has advanced beyond the existing laws and that new laws are therefore necessary. The present study was conducted to look at the prevalence of cyber-bullying and to assess whether or not the most common techniques used by the cyber-bully are subject to existing laws.

Key Words: Cyber-harassment, social media, justice system, telecommunication