An information campaign to tackle cyberbullying is gaining increasing traction as The Harmful Communications & Related Offences Bill 2017 – also known as ‘Coco’s Law’ – makes its way through the Oireachtas. Named after the daughter of Jackie Fox, who lost her 21 year old daughter in 2018 to suicide due to internet bullying, is intended to reform and strengthen the presently inadequate and outdated legislation around online harassment and cyberbullying, making the act a criminal offence.
Highlighted during ‘Safer Internet Day 2019’, which took place on Tuesday 5th February, the use of social media continues to pervade modern life, and there is an increasing risk that users may find themselves the victim of online bullying, harassment, and aggression. A study by the Union of Students in Ireland found that young people between the ages of 13-17 were particularly vulnerable.
Current Legislation Ineffective
Existing legislation surrounding cyberbullying is considered antiquated in an era of rapidly advancing technology, written at a time before the existence of social media. Issues pertaining to online harassment are at present dealt with under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act of 1997, Section 10, which states: (1) Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, by any means including by use of the telephone, harasses another by persistently following, watching, pestering, besetting or communicating with him or her, shall be guilty of an offence.
Many consider the existing legislation outmoded and insufficient in tackling this modern challenge, and it is unsurprising that Coco’s Law is garnering widespread support with hopes that it will be passed soon.
Taking Steps to Prevent Online Harassment
Per the advice of An Garda Síochána, there are number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of online harassment:
- Don’t reply to abusive messages.
- Screenshot and save the message for possible investigative purposes by the authorities.
- Block the sender of the message.
- Report the issue to the operator of the website and/or application, or consider reporting to An Garda Síochána.
As always if you have any issues or concerns contact one of our firm’s Solicitors for legal advice.
* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. *
Contact us for more information
An information campaign to tackle cyberbullying is gaining increasing traction as The Harmful Communications & Related Offences Bill 2017 – also known as ‘Coco’s Law’ – makes its way through the Oireachtas. Named after the daughter of Jackie Fox, who lost her 21 year old daughter in 2018 to suicide due to internet bullying, is intended to reform and strengthen the presently inadequate and outdated legislation around online harassment and cyberbullying, making the act a criminal offence.
Highlighted during ‘Safer Internet Day 2019’, which took place on Tuesday 5th February, the use of social media continues to pervade modern life, and there is an increasing risk that users may find themselves the victim of online bullying, harassment, and aggression. A study by the Union of Students in Ireland found that young people between the ages of 13-17 were particularly vulnerable.
Current Legislation Ineffective
Existing legislation surrounding cyberbullying is considered antiquated in an era of rapidly advancing technology, written at a time before the existence of social media. Issues pertaining to online harassment are at present dealt with under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act of 1997, Section 10, which states: (1) Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, by any means including by use of the telephone, harasses another by persistently following, watching, pestering, besetting or communicating with him or her, shall be guilty of an offence.
Many consider the existing legislation outmoded and insufficient in tackling this modern challenge, and it is unsurprising that Coco’s Law is garnering widespread support with hopes that it will be passed soon.
Taking Steps to Prevent Online Harassment
Per the advice of An Garda Síochána, there are number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of online harassment:
- Don’t reply to abusive messages.
- Screenshot and save the message for possible investigative purposes by the authorities.
- Block the sender of the message.
- Report the issue to the operator of the website and/or application, or consider reporting to An Garda Síochána.
As always if you have any issues or concerns contact one of our firm’s Solicitors for legal advice.
* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. *
Contact us for more information