Ulo ng Balita: Anti Cyber-Bullying Act of 2015 pushed

Petsa ng Artikulo: May 27, 2015

Buod: MANILA, Philippines A Bicol lawmaker on Wednesday proposed House Bill 5718
to define and penalize the crime of cyber-bullying. Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya
authored the bill entitled An act of defining and penalizing the crime of cyber-bullying
otherwise known as Anti-Cyber-Bullying Act of 2015 with the hope of encouraging people to
become responsible netizens and making them accountable for their "cyber-actions." "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," said Andaya, who is also a former budget secretary.
Andaya defined cyber-bullying as acts of cruelty committed using the internet or any form of
electronic media or technology that has the effect of stripping ones dignity or causing reasonable
fear or physical or emotional harm. The congressman also considered repeated sending of
offensive, rude and insulting message, distributing of belittling information about the victim, as a
form of cyber-bullying. Even posting or sending of offensive photos of the victim, whether
digitally altered or not or were taken with or without consent, as long as it has intention to
humiliate and embarrass the victim is also cyber-bullying according to Andaya. Headlines
( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Andaya also cited breaking into an email, social
networking or any electronic account and using the victims virtual identity to send, upload or
distribute embarrassing materials to or about others, sharing the victims personal information or
any embarrassing information, or tricking the victim into revealing personal or embarrassing
information and sharing it to others and repeated sending of messages such as threats or harm or
engaging in online activities causing fear on victims safety as cyber-bullying. Under the
measure, those who will be found guilty of cyber-bullying shall be fined penalty of P50,000 but
not more than P100,000 and imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than six
years, or both. "Because of the anonymity that the internet gives, social and moral norms are
easily switched off and users are emboldened to just say or post anything online without
accountability," Andaya said. Andaya said that Internet bashing has become a culture among
internet users and even initiate problems that involve hostility and aggression. Under HB 5718,
the Commission of Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Department of
Justice, and the Department of Interior and Local Government shall jointly create necessary rules
and regulations within 90 days upon approval of the act for its effective implementation. The bill
was submitted to CICT chaired by First District Rizal Rep. Joel Roy Duavit for proper
consideration and action.