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Cyber-bullying is defined as "the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others".
Cyber-bullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, as well as the posting of false statements as fact aimed at humiliation.
The practice of cyber-bullying is not limited to children. Cyber-bullying perpetrated by an adult towards another adult is sometimes referred to as cyberstalking or cyberharassment. Common tactics used by cyber-stalkers are to threaten a victim's earnings, employment, reputation, or safety. Moreover, bullies can gang up on their victims on electronic pages more efficiently than they do in traditional bullying, since there is no limit to the number of people who can join in, following a bullying statement.
A 2008 High Court ruling determined that, generally speaking, slander is when a defamatory statement has been made orally without justification. Libelous statements are those that are recorded with some degree of permanence. This would include statements made by email or on online bulletin boards.
While motives vary, whether romantic, a business conflict of interest, or personal dislike, the target is commonly someone whose life the stalker sees or senses elements lacking in his or her own life. The source of the defamation seems to come from three types of online information purveyors: Blogs, industry forums and commercial websites. Studies reveal that while some motives are personal dislike, there is often direct economic motivation by the cyberstalker, including conflict of interest, and investigations reveal the responsible party is an affiliate or supplier of a competitor, or the competitor itself.
Cyber-bullying can be as simple as continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, as well as the posting of false statements as fact aimed at humiliation.
The practice of cyber-bullying is not limited to children. Cyber-bullying perpetrated by an adult towards another adult is sometimes referred to as cyberstalking or cyberharassment. Common tactics used by cyber-stalkers are to threaten a victim's earnings, employment, reputation, or safety. Moreover, bullies can gang up on their victims on electronic pages more efficiently than they do in traditional bullying, since there is no limit to the number of people who can join in, following a bullying statement.
A 2008 High Court ruling determined that, generally speaking, slander is when a defamatory statement has been made orally without justification. Libelous statements are those that are recorded with some degree of permanence. This would include statements made by email or on online bulletin boards.
While motives vary, whether romantic, a business conflict of interest, or personal dislike, the target is commonly someone whose life the stalker sees or senses elements lacking in his or her own life. The source of the defamation seems to come from three types of online information purveyors: Blogs, industry forums and commercial websites. Studies reveal that while some motives are personal dislike, there is often direct economic motivation by the cyberstalker, including conflict of interest, and investigations reveal the responsible party is an affiliate or supplier of a competitor, or the competitor itself.
In most states, Cyber-bulling is covered under Telecommunications Laws. Click HERE to access a list that consists of current and pending cyberstalking-related United States federal and state laws, as well as those states that do not have laws yet and related laws from other countries. In many states, providing a device that others use to bully allows law enforcement to charge you with a crime as well. (I.e. A home computer that your children use, or a work computer/cell phone that your employees use to bully others can cause you to be charged for harassment along with the one bullying.)
If you are a victim of Cyber-bullying, Cyberstalking or Cyberharassment and need to locate an attorney, check out The National Crime Victim Bar Association.
Bullying people online is highly unprofessional, even more so when your actions or statements pull others into the same behavior. Luckily, in many states, cyber-bulling is also illegal.
Allison B. Kontur
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