House bill seeks imprisonment, 100k fine for cyber bullies

Imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of as much as P100,000 await Internet bullies if the bill filed by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. becomes a law.

House Bill 5718, or the proposed Anti Cyber-Bullying Act of 2015, seeks to penalize cyber bullying to keep netizens accountable for their actions on the Internet.

It seeks to provide a penalty of P50,000 but not more than P100,000, or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than six years, for any person found guilty of cyber-bullying. Both fine and imprisonment may also be meted out as punishment for violators upon the discretion of the court.

Under the measure, cyber-bullying shall refer to acts of cruelty committed using the Internet or any form of electronic media or technology that has the effect of stripping one’s dignity or causing reasonable fear or physical or emotional harm including, but not limited to, the following:

a) Repeatedly sending offensive, rude and insulting messages;

b) Distributing derogatory information about the victim;

c) Posting or sending offensive photos of the victim, whether these are digitally altered, were taken with or without consent, with the intention to humiliate and embarrass the victim;

d) Breaking into an email, social networking or any electronic account and using the victim’s virtual identity to send, upload or distribute embarrassing materials to or about others;

e) Sharing the victim’s personal information or any embarrassing information, or tricking the victim into revealing personal or embarrassing information and sharing it to others; and

f) Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or engaging in online activities that cause fear on the victim’s safety.

Accountability

In the bill’s explanatory note, Andaya said the anonymity of the Internet has made it easier for netizens to “switch off” social and moral norms and post or say anything online without accountability.

As a result, Andaya said, Internet bashing has become a culture and has even spawned problems that involve hostility and aggression.

“Cyber-bullying is one such problem that the advancement in technology and social media has generated. It can potentially affect not only school-aged children, but also any individual who has access to a mobile phone or the Internet,” he said.

The measure has been referred to the Committee on Information Communication Technology chaired by Rizal Rep. Joel Roy R. Duavit for proper consideration and action. -NB, GMA News