WHAT DOES CYBERBULLYING LOOKS LIKE?

 

The Internet is accessible anytime and anywhere. It is now a necessity and a way of life for many. It's as if it's a whole new world out there in the Internet. One can be so immersed with the Internet and completely disassociated with the reality. Technology is the future but this rapid advancement of technology is a contributing factor to the change in the behaviour of humans. It's a worrisome when it involves children. Children can be seen interacting less physically, but instead, they are seen constantly interacting via social networking sites, playing online games, watching movies or even surfing the Internet whether at home or elsewhere.

Malaysia ranked 6th among 28 countries in a survey on cyberbullying around the world in 2018 and 2nd among Asian countries, behind India. 

There are so many cases of cyberbullying in Malaysia that led to a fatal end. 

Here are just a few of them :

• May 2019 - 16 year old girl made an Instagram poll : “Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L”, and as many as 69% of her followers had reportedly voted for her to commit suicide.

• May 2020 -  20 year old woman committed suicide after TikTok video of her and a foreigner colleague was posted on Facebook page went viral and received overflowing nasty comments

These cases highlighted the importance of teaching manners to the Internet users. This is a serious issue as social media is now used in a manner that can endanger the lives of certain people. 

A minor should always be under adults' surveillance when it comes to the usage of the Internet. Not just to avoid our loved ones from becoming a victim of cyberbullying but also to curb from creating perpetrators of cyberbullying itself. One should always be aware and understand what constitute as cyberbullying. 

Other forms of cyberbullying includes :

• Flaming/Bashing : It is a hostile online interaction that involves insulting messages, or flames, between users.

• Outing : This is an act of openly revealing sensitive or personal information about someone without their consent for purposes of embarrassing or humiliating them. 

• Tricking : Tricking someone into revealing secret or embarrassing information, which is then shared online. This includes the element of element of deception. This method is where the bully will befriend their target and lull them into a false sense of security. Once the bully has gained their target’s trust, they abuse that trust and share the victim’s secrets and private information to a third party or multiple third parties.

Drastic Times Call for Drastic Measures

Cyberbully Laws in Malaysia

No, there no specific legislation for cyberbullying. 

BUT 

There are several laws that governed the issue such as the Computer Crimes Act 1997, the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, the Penal Code 1950, Defamation Act 1957 and the Child Act 2001. This depends on the nature or severity of the case. 

Firstly, Malaysia relies on Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to prosecute cyber bullies. 

This section prohibits sharing contents that are obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person or initiates a communication using any applications service, whether continuously, repeatedly or otherwise with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person. 

This offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding one year or both. Also a further fine of RM1,000 for every day the offence continues after conviction.

If you're a victim, please lodge a complaint against the perpetrator or perpetrators to the operator of the social media platform (Facebook, Instagram and others) and the police so that action can be taken under Section 233 (1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Additionally, you can file a complaint to Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) : Cyber Consumer Complaint

Not just that, MCMC is also working very closely with social media platforms operators to remove the video recording from being viral and ensuring that the Internet is a safe place.

Is this sufficient?

Since this is a severe issue, there should be a specific legislation to address the issue. Last year, survey results shown that 71.6% of legal practitioners and 89.3% of the public wanted a cyberbullying act to be introduced. 

On the other hand, as Internet users, we should always educate ourselves and people around us. 

Explain to them their actions are cyberbullying (just in case if they are not aware of it), the impact of their actions to other people and the consequences they will face. 

Every single thing has its pros and cons. What made it different is our choices. Choose to be better. Be responsible with your actions especially on the Internet. 

For those who are experiencing cyberbullying, 

Do contact CyberSecurity Malaysia, Cyber999 via:

E-mail: cyber999@cybersecurity.my

SMS: CYBER999 REPORT to 15888

Tel: 1-300-88-2999

If you experienced cyberbullying and need someone to talk to :

Contact Befrienders via:

Tel: 03-7956 8145

E-mail: sam@befrienders.org.my

Available 24 hours every day, 7 days a week.

Calls from 8 local telcos are FREE.