Cyberbullying is an issue that did not exist a few decades ago, but has
become a nuisance in contemporary times. While the bullying takes place online,
it still constitutes psychological violence that can have a real detrimental
effect on the victim. Mirjam-Mari Marastu, an expert in legal advice, answers
questions about how to deal with the problem and about when bullying becomes a
criminal offence.
When does escaping help?
There is a humorous image about cyberbullying that sometimes appears
online, which offers the following steps for dealing with the problem:
- Take
your computer
- Turn it
off
While the joke is somewhat harsh, it does contain some truth. According
to Miriam-Mari Marastu, escaping (leaving chat, blocking the bully) is a
practical act, because it strips the bully of their channels.
It is often thought that communication with the person must be
continued, that there is no right to silence anyone, or that blocking is for
losers. Becoming a victim of harassment is often accompanied by feelings of
shame or of having done something to deserve it. In reality, ceasing
communication is a victory for the victim, and also their right, because by
doing it, the bully loses their power, which they were abusing in the first
place.
When blocking does not help
The internet often provides means for the bully to create new channels
through which to harass their victim. According to Marastu, in those cases
there is a chance to turn to people who are experts in dealing with these
things. “Each proper communication network, message board, or website has their
rules for activity, and a moderator who is responsible for enforcing them.”
With large networks like Facebook or Google, the language barrier means that
filing a complaint may not produce results. “Our web constables can help in
these cases and have done an admirable job so far.”
“In any case, it is important to share one’s experience with a trusted
person, be it a parent, a teacher, a friend... For someone to be able to help,
even by simply saying that what is happening is not OK.”
When bullying becomes criminal
Often the solution is not as simple as turning off the computer. As
there is both a physical and a psychological barrier between us and others in
the world of online communication, it becomes easy to think that whatever
happens in the cyberworld, stays there. However, one must not forget that while
the bully might be anyone, however far away, they are still a real person. The
victim is also a real person, regardless of whether they are a classmate or an
acquaintance from the other side of the world.
This is best illustrated by how easy it is for cyberbullying to turn
into criminal activity. Marastu points out what exactly is prohibited by law:
● To
impersonate another person or to post on their behalf
● To share
another person’s private information without their approval, such as their
phone number, address, personal identification code, etc.
● To post
pictures of another person that have not been taken in a public space without
their permission
● To defame
someone or to incite hostility against them
“In these cases, the police must be contacted,” Marastu confirms.
When in doubt
The law has its nuances. As with school bullying, where the expectation
is that the bully can be dealt with according to the school’s internal rules,
the rules of a website are also the first thing upon which to rely.
“Unfortunately, the police cannot get involved before certain lines are
crossed,” Marastu concedes.
“A web constable can also help when you are unsure of whether the police
should be involved.” Advice is given in any case and constables are experts on
the subject. “With trickier cases like defamation, free
legal advice can be of help, and it is available to all residents
of Estonia.”
Not only a matter for young people
Nowadays the internet is used by people of all ages, and adults or
elderly people can become victims of harassment just like schoolchildren. The
bully may notice some published opinion, a lack of knowledge, or the victim’s
demographic, which they will use to threaten or insult the person, or in worse
cases, to harass them in real life.
A recent form of bullying that has become a punishable crime is known as
doxxing, which entails publishing the victim’s personal details (phone number,
address, etc.), allowing entire groups of people to anonymously harass the
victim and often also their loved ones via threatening phone calls, e-mails,
packages, or stalking. In the US, victims of doxxing are often adult women.
Mirjam-Mari Marastu: always seek help
“The surest thing is to ask for advice from a web constable, who can
assess what the best solution would be and whether the bullying has become
criminal,” Marastu says. Web constables can be contacted fairly quickly via
Facebook and they will answer various questions. Isolating the victim is a
classic tactic of the bully and seeking help can combat this.
