Are there any laws based around cyber bullying?
The Commonwealth Criminal Code sets out an offence of using a carriage service (such as a mobile phone service or the internet) in a way that is menacing, harassing or offensive. The maximum penalty for committing the offence is 3 years imprisonment. While it has the potential to be used in cases of cyber-bullying, to date charges under this section of the Code have been brought only in relation to harassing phone calls. Some state governments have specifically expanded the scope of the off-line harassment laws to cover online activities. In Victoria, for example, the stalking provisions of the Crimes Act could extend to catch cyber-bullies who post information about a victim on the internet, intending the post to cause mental harm to the victim, or to cause the victim to fear for his or her safety. However, even where specific legislation designed to apply to such online activities exists it has been of little effect, with no cases of successful prosecution for cyber-bullying in Austr
