Cyberbullying is a new offense in Western society. According to surveys on school crime in 2010 and 2011, roughly 28 percent of children in the sixth to 12th grades experienced cyberbullying, and a US 2013 youth risk behavior survey on Internet usage showed that about 20 percent of ninth to 12th graders had experienced cyberbullying.
Although freedom of expression on the Internet is regarded as a human right by advanced countries, it should not be overused, and only be used when it does not violate the human rights of others. Even in democratic and free countries such as the US, bullying is not tolerated. Many state governments have enacted laws to regulate it.
The US government deems the abuse of freedom of expression on the Internet as bullying and an offense that could endanger national security. Hence, the responsibility of regulation belongs to the US Department of Homeland Security, whereas in Taiwan the task falls to the National Communications Commission.
The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team under the Department of Homeland Security educates the public about Internet safety, receiving reports and using its rapid and advanced computing skills to catch and prosecute bullies, thereby preventing them from violating the human rights of others.
Whenever there is a problem, Taiwanese call for lawmakers to solve the problem, unaware of the fact that piles of bills are sitting in the legislature waiting to be reviewed because the legislature is unable to keep up with social expectations. In addition to enacting antibullying legislation, there are other urgent matters to attend to. The Executive Yuan can consolidate resources from different sectors to take active measures to fight bullying, without needing to wait for the legislature to find a solution.
The cyberbullying solution adopted by the US government is not about legislation, primarily because — just as Taiwanese society fears — cyberbullying legislation might go against the constitutionally protected freedom of expression.
Furthermore, it is crucial to take into account the cost and effectiveness of enforcing Internet regulations. The Internet is a borderless world, practically beyond all sorts of regulations. Hence, instead of legislation, it is more desirable to coordinate resources from government agencies and the private sector, set up antibullying Web sites and teach the public how to prevent and watch out for signs of cyberbullying.
On encountering bullying, people should promptly remind bullies of the nature of their misconduct or report incidents to Internet forum administrators, requesting the removal of the problematic articles. If the bullying continues, citizens can print the relevant Web page as evidence and report it to the police. Of course, friends and relatives of the victim should actively show their concern and get involved. They must not play the role of bystanders and neglect the opportunity to save someone who is a victim of Internet bullying.
The Criminal Code, Personal Information Protection Act (個人資料保護法) and Civil Code are enough to penalize those irresponsible cowards who hide behind their screens. Hotlines such as 110 and 165, suicide prevention hotlines and hotlines of offices in schools are well-established; unfortunately, they are not well integrated and advertised.
Legislation is the last line of defense for maintaining social order. Tackling the root cause requires education, which is a responsibility shared by parents and schools. Society should cultivate the next generation’s Internet integrity. Do not let the pursuit of speed and freedom keep citizens from remembering how to respect others.
Ted Chiou is a professor at Yuan Ze University.
Translated by Ethan Zhan
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