Cyberbullying Laws & Policies

"Cyber bullies can hide behind a mask of anonymity online, and do not need direct physical access to their victims to do unimaginable harm." -Anna Maria Chavez
This morning I read a post on the Cyber Bullying: Hiding Behind the Screen blog that included a list of times when you should report cyberbullying to law enforcement, including threats of violence, posting a picture/video of someone in privacy, stalking, and hate crimes. This post made me wonder about the legal requirements and ramifications surrounding cyberbullying, both as they pertain to schools and administrators as well as to people who engage in acts of cyberbullying.

The website Stopbullying.gov lists applicable laws by state, including a detailed list of all Maryland Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies. In Maryland, anti-bullying school policies are required to contain the following elements:
  • Statements prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation in schools
  • Statements prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against individuals who report acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation;
  • Definitions of prohibited behavior that conform to definitions in state law;
  • Consequences and remedial actions for violations of policy;
  • Procedures for reporting and investigations, including designation of a contact person who is familiar with reporting and investigation procedures;
  • Information about the types of support services available to a student bully, victim, or any bystanders;
  • Information regarding the availability and use of the bullying, harassment, and intimidation reporting form;
  • Information regarding the availability and use of an anonymous two-way electronic tip program;
  • Requirements regarding how the policy will be publicized within the district.

In terms of legal consequences for students who engage in cyberbullying, the blog Cyber Bullying: What's It All About? features a post titled What Does the Law Say? that concisely summarizes the consequences for engaging in cyberbullying in the state of Maryland. The most common consequences for cyberbullying include fines and at times even imprisonment. This reality suggests that teachers should talk with their students not only about how to recognize, address, and prevent cyberbullying, but also about the legal consequences of cyberbullying.

Hopefully the information and links above are useful for you in terms of understanding cyberbullying from a legal perspective. If you have any thoughts or questions, please share them in the comments section below!


Comments

  1. Erin EntwistleApril 28, 2019 at 2:51 PM

    I was just reading earlier this week about how they updated Grace's Law in terms of cyberbullying. Apparently in Maryland, just one single act of cyberbullying now can lead to issues with the law. Thought it was fitting for the topic of your blog!

    ReplyDelete

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