ComPol Explains Cyberbullying Law

As it relates to the crime of cyberbullying, Commissioner Williams said it appears that some individuals do not grasp what the cyberbullying law stipulates and what is punishable by law. He says that if you receive data and or images virtually and share it, you are breaking the law.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“People seemingly are not getting the effect of the cyber bullying legislation. Some people believe that if they receive and it is forward that they are not in violation, but the law speaks to either creating, publishing, or sharing. So if you receive it and you further share it, then you also commit the offense of cyberbullying. And it can be a video, a photograph, or even text, it’s cyberbullying. So long as it is done with the intention to intimidate or to subject the person to public humiliation or embarrassment. And when you look at the content of the photographs and video footages, even some comments that some people post, it has certainly been done with intent to subject those persons to public ridicule and embarrassment. So it falls within the limits of cyberbullying.”

 

Reporter

“But still a complaint would have to be made?”

 

Chester Williams

“Yes, a complaint would have to be made by the persons whom the post would affect.”