Disgusting. Abhorrent. Detestable.
Hateful.
These are some of the words I use to describe the cyberbullying scenario I am looking into today.
Some teenager has created a fake profile on Instagram and used it to describe his/her victim in a sexual light. The details are excruciating and accompanied by a threat of impending rape that chills me to the bone.
The author of these messages probably thinks he/she cannot be tracked down. It could be difficult, but is not necessarily impossible.
The law provides victims of cyberbullying with powerful ammunition discussed in the video below.
In a nutshell, cyberbullies should realise the following:
- The Protection from Harassment Act allows courts to order police investigations into anonymous cyberbullying acts. Only the IP address of the offensive profile is needed to kick start investigations.
- Cyberbullying that consists of text depicting a minor sexually amounts to child pornography.
- Cyberbullying may constitute criminal defamation.
- The Sexual Offences Act forces those with knowledge of sexual cyberbullying to report it to the police. If you fail, you will be charged with contravening section 54 of the act and may be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Also read: Your social media profile has become your testimonial
Also read: This “tag” could cost you R40 000.
