York Regional Police Technological Crime Unit Cyber Bullying Detective Constable Phil Shrewsbury-Gee Detective Paul DaSilva August 2008

What is Cyber Bullying?  Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as , cell phone, pagers, SMS, IM, Web sites and defamatory personal polling Web sites,  to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or a group, that is intended to harm others.

It’s only pictures and words so who cares?  The reality is that these words and pictures can result in;  Frustration  Depression  Anger

It’s only pictures and words and nobody really gets hurt, so who cares!!! 14 year old girl from New Jersey “Being bullied over the Internet is worse. It’s torment and it hurts. They say, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.’ That quote is a lie and I don’t believe in it. Sticks and stones may cause nasty cuts and scars, but those cuts and scars will heal. Insultive words hurt and sometimes take forever to heal.”

It’s only pictures and words and nobody really gets hurt, so who cares!!! 14 year old girl from Illinois “I still cry when I think of what she said. After a while you start believing all the things people tell you that aren’t true. When I look in the mirror I wonder if I’m fat (I’m not) after what my ex-friend said.”

It’s only pictures and words and nobody really gets hurt, so who cares!!! 11 year old boy from York Region trying to scare his teacher “I saw you down by the lake this morning. You looked very pretty in that dress. I just wanted to slit your guts and…”

It’s only pictures and words and nobody really gets hurt, so who cares!!! 12 year old from York Region While using MSN IM, a 12 year old female was bullied into performing various sex acts with teen age males under the threat of having uncomplimentary pictures of her posted on the Internet.

Cyberbullying, it not that common. Right?  2005 Survey of 1,500 adolescents reported:  80% reported that bullying occurs online.  32% of males and 36% females report being bullied online.  12% report being directly threatened.  49% through SMS  56% in Chat rooms

Cyberbullying  Dr. Glen DiPasquale YRDSSB ret.  Cyberbullying has greater negative psychological impact  Physical bullying, there are safe places to go and escape the torment and abuse.  Technology such as Internet and cell phones permit the bullies to follow victim right into their house and even their bedroom.

Get of my case man. I can say what I want. 1 st amendment, freedom of speech.  1 st Amendment is US  Canada is, “freedom of opinion and expression.”  Not an absolute right.  Can and is restricted by law.

Freedom of Expression and the Law  There are a number of offences that may result from verbal or written utterances.  Threatening death or serious bodily harm  Threatening to damage property, kill or injure animal or bird.  Extortion  Defamatory libel  Criminal Harassment  Wilfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group.

Threats  Can be made directly to victim  Instant Messaging, SMS (Cell phone), , blog, social networking site, phone or in person.  Can be done through 3 rd person i.e., “tell Johnny that…”  Victim need not be identified for an offence to occur.  Secondary innocent meaning must be reasonable to a normal person.

Threats  Threats can be to,  an individual  an identified group  to a non-specific group  Threats to groups are most often anonymous (not signed)  Threats to groups often precede anniversaries of significant tragedies i.e. 911 and Columbine

Threats Threatening SMS Message sent to a former friend

Extortion  Most people know it as “Black Mail.”  Anyone, without lawful excuse, tries to make another person;  To do anything  Or cause anything to be done  By threats, violence or menace.  YRP Tech Crime  Most victims are teenage females

Defamatory Libel  Relatively new phenomenon  Free websites and other free Web services often used to facilitate.  Encourages people who don’t know the intended victim to participate in the cruel behaviour.  Encourages people to try to “out do” each other in their cruelty.  Has been the cause of many teen suicides

Cyber Bully Gets Jail

Why Cyberbully?  Bullies often falsely believe that their identity is immune from discovery (anonymity)  Perception that they cant get caught  Can easily encourage others to assist even when they don’t know the victim.  They think its fun!!!  They can follow the victim anywhere  No physical harm can become of the bully

Who is a Cyberbully  Anyone can become a cyberbully  Anyone who can use a computer or a cell phone  No age, sex, race, religion, education, upbringing, physical size or social status is exempt.  Brothers, sisters cousins friends etc.  You!!!

Who are victims?  Anyone can be a victim of cyberbullying there are no rules.  Victims can be:  Your former BFF  A relative  A school mate  A teacher  Co-worker  You!

Who else are victims  The geeky boy who becomes the fireman that goes into a burning building to save your family  The clumsy kid who becomes the police officer who tracks down and arrests the serial rapist  The goofy looking guy who becomes the rock star whose music you can’t live without  The girl who hangs with all the “losers” and becomes your wife.  The unattractive girl who, if she hadn’t committed suicide because of cyberbullying, would have grown up to discover the only cure for the disease that takes your life.

Think twice before you decide to engage in bullying behaviour… You may end up bullying yourself