Saturday, October 15, 2011

Bill criminalizing cyber-bullying

Ako Bicol (AKB) Party List solon Rep. Rodel Batocabe filed recently filed a bill criminalizing cyber-bullying in the country and providing penalties of fine, imprisonment or both.

Batocabe, author of House Bill 5391, criminalizes cyber-bullying and imposes stiff penalties against violators.

The Bicolano solon said the bill was in response to the lack of protection and legislation addressing the issue.

"We were surprised to learn that out of all the bills filed and laws passed in the country, no bill was filed to address this scourge of society, except for bills filed against bullying," he said.

He said even bills filed on cyber crimes do not include and define cyber-bullying.

He also noted that the need to prosecute cyber-bullies has been discussed extensively among psychological and information technology experts; but, unfortunately, these are futile attempts at institutionalization.

"This bill is an answer to the call for action," he said.

A recent slew of cyber-bullying cases are evident of the need to protect people, especially Internet users, of the dangerous effects of cyber-bullying.

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