LAKELAND - Among the forms of bullying that people experience is cyberbullying. While cyberbullying is clearly hurtful to victims, there can also be legal consequences for those who engage in cyberbullying.
“Cyberbullies can have their devices taken away, have to pay their victims and may even face jail time,” according to the Government of Canada.
Depending on the conduct of the cyberbully, those involved could be charged with several offences under Canada’s Criminal Code. Charges can range from criminal harassment, to uttering threats, intimidation, identity theft, unauthorized use of a computer, extortion, incitement of hatred, defamatory libel, and more.
Intimate images
“Sharing intimate or sexual images or videos of a person without their consent is a crime,” according to the Government of Canada. “This law is in place to protect privacy and applies to everyone’s privacy and applies to everyone — not just people under 18.”
Sharing intimate images or videos without a person’s consent is one of the common forms of cyberbullying and is often used as a form of revenge after a fight or breakup.
“No matter the reason, this kind of cyberbullying can be devastating to a person's self-esteem, reputation, and mental health. In extreme cases, these acts have played a part in suicidal thoughts and self-harm,” according to information from the federal government.
Judges have authority to order the removal of images from the internet. And anyone convicted of distributing an intimate image without consent can face serious legal consequences, which includes prison.
Hard to escape
A fact sheet put together by the Government of Alberta notes how cyberbullying can be especially harmful because it follows victims to their home.
“Cyberbullying can be especially harmful because it can be hard to escape. It follows people home – a place where they should feel safe and supported,” reads the fact sheet.
