Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

No.

Cyber harassment will never be stopped, just as ordinary harassment won't. What WILL make a difference is if the victims are given better tools to report harassment AND SEE IT ACTED ON! At the moment, most online reporting tools are toothless tigers. My advice is, keep any texts, emails etc from the bullies and record ANY MSN-type conversations you have with people. That way the police have a clear record of what's happening. If you're a young person suffering from cyber harassment, there are local, as well as national helplines you can call, as well as many on-line resources. Parents, make sure your children are aware of this and make sure YOU support them if they say they're being harassed!

The thing about the internet is that you disconnect from it or quite easily hide if you gave it some thought.

If anyone is (really) being cyberstalked online then they're either kids with no common sense or someone with enemies who is incredibly naive.

The internet is a place for all and that include nutters. Knowing how to avoid them is key and having all the panic buttons and alert buttons in the world will not be of any value if the individual being harassed is as thick as a plank.

As stated above, it is not possible to prevent cyber-harassment, just as no crime can be prevented. However, they CAN be prosecuted properly if the police do their job...

But the good thing about the Internet is that you can always shift away from someone who's being unpleasant or acting in an unwelcome manner. Even if you wish to remain in an online community where someone is being a pest, you can usually set controls to block them from messaging you, or indeed to ignore anything that the post.

I once had a student who was being harassed by text messages. I asked him if the individual sending them was a person he'd seek out if he wanted advice. "No," he said. "OK," I replied, "Why are you paying attention to what they are texting?" We then got out the manual for his phone and worked out how to block messages from the offending individual.

Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?
Only by those being harassed - change privacy settings, or just switch it off, etc. The local police aren't exactly well equipped to deal with this, and the likes of GCHQ and MI6 have more important things to deal with. And the last thing we need is yet another expensive government IT project (ID cards, NHS, etc...).

Are you worried about cyber harassment?
No. Because I know where the off-switch is.

Is it possible to police internet stalking?
Not easily, no. The best you can hope for is good moderators on some services / sites.

Should ISPs take more responsibility?
No! Why should they?! What are these groups expecting to happen? Someone to wave a magic wand?

Are you worried about cyber harassment?Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking?Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility?Yes

Next question, please?

People sign up for sites like Facebook so they know what the risk is. if you don't want to risk harrassment don't go on social network sites.

Switch the computer off.

druid2002 wrote: The thing about the internet is that you disconnect from it or quite easily hide if you gave it some thought.

If anyone is (really) being cyberstalked online then they're either kids with no common sense or someone with enemies who is incredibly naive.

The internet is a place for all and that include nutters. Knowing how to avoid them is key and having all the panic buttons and alert buttons in the world will not be of any value if the individual being harassed is as thick as a plank.

What an ignorant, arrogant, unhelpful and unsympathetic response. That's like saying if you're getting harrassed in the street, don't go out. If you are getting abusive messages in your personal email then that is as invasive as nusiance phone calls.

Why should anyone have to curtail their activities because of someone else? Online bullying should be treated exactly the same as any other form. If it truly affects your life then keep records, get your ISP and the Police involved and do not let them get away with it.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Well if I could have my way, I'd ban Americans from accessing the web since alot of them I found are disgusting and nasty people who abuse their 'freedom of speech' to start up arguments and throw around lame insults like how they stupidly think they saved the UK in WW2 when in fact they didn't.

And I can't stand how so many sites are Americanised. I'm sick of seeing the 'z' in American spelling. I do wish they learnt how to spell properly and stop having so many sites that carries a blatent American bias.

I'm limiting my communications from Americans as much as I can because I find them to cause the most harassment, from my own experiences in forums, internet gaming etc.

ISPs can minimise cyber-stalking by changing their codes and/or pass-words at shorter intervals, and each time it should be done in a different manner.

@luskentyre - thank you for your insightful comments - that is exactly the point we are trying to make here - you are hiding behind a nickname much in the same way that i am. It is our first line of defence against people who are quick to take offence - it seems this is common sense to you and me but then again i am assuming that common sense is common! Maybe this stuff needs to be teached at school or something?

Now on the other hand there are various forms of stalkers online and i am trying to discuss those naive enough to reveal their full identity to a complete and utter stanger on dubious websites or messenger.

I would also chastise those stupid enough to wear bling in rough areas.

Can anything be done about stalking ? Yes , BUT 90% of this can come from the user first and foremost since this is the first line of defence.

By all means keep a log BUT if your defences fail then get the authorities involved.

Cyber Harrassment is really open to those that haven't really understood the tools they are using or understanding the implications of their usage. Being involved in new media for the past 16 years, I have seen significant rises in problems like this over the past 3-5 years and most do revolve around social networks sites.

To give an example, I was asked if I could remove some nasty comments and messages and close the account of a friends daughters social network account (mention no names). Problem was that she had lost her password and changed email addresses. So she had real issues trying to log in herself, as inevitably the person posting these nasty messages had got hold of her access details and completely changed them.

When I sent emails to the social network site, I had all the information I needed that they were asking except details of the password, which had been changed. Over a week went by before I got a reply and messages were still being posted. I answered their questions etc, etc. which went on for another 2 - 3 weeks, with still no access being granted.

After 5 weeks I received a reply basically saying I needed to report the problem via some form, which I had done in week 1. After the 6th week with not hearing anything further, I gave up as they were not helping and expressed no concern whatsoever.

If thats what it takes and in some cases still not get a result, then these type of sites have no business being online in the first place. Because it isn't anything to do with providing a service to users, it is to create as much money as possible wherever possible. This is why this will not be the first, the last or 1 thousandth time we hear about cyber bullying or harrassment.

On the issue of ISP's being more vigilant, this is clearly not possible. There are millions and millions of web pages out there, blogs, social network sites, forums etc. etc. This can only be policed by the users themselves and users that come across sites or pages that clearly indicate this type of harrassment.

Sorry to say but there are a lot of people out there using the net, that are trully careless with their personal details. But to put the onus on ISP's and other bodies to monitor the net, which is what their aims probably are, shows a lack of understanding and how significant the internet really is.

Simply don't know the answer to this HYS question.

I don't use internet social networking sites; nor work for a company that employs workers like Elle on BBC news this morning. Surely is it is the duty of any employer to protect their staff from online harrasement as they would for any employee in any other staff position? If you are self-employed, of course you have to be more aware as if you are running your business on a high street?

The internet can be an important research, working or business tool and virtual shop front too - which helps many business start-ups and small businesses to survive today?

Perhaps if ALL users, of ALL ages regarded the internet as a resource only and NOT a big friendly game OR a 24/7 toy - which it increasingly clearly isn't?

Perhaps ALL parents/children/students/government should get their act together in collaboration to underline that just because something is accessible on the internet - it doesn't make it right, safe nor acceptable? Yes, the internet is an 'open information cyber-book' if you will - but it doesn't make it true or informed - nor unbiased?

Only very silly people let themselves be bullied online, seriously if you publish information about yourself , you only have yourself to blame.

Change your username.

Lets deal with real bullying at school not this NU labour myth.

Personally I am not worried about internet stalking. But then I do not use Facebook or any other networking site and I delete all emails unread if I do not recognise the sender or the title does not make the content clear, or the list of other recipients identifies it as spam.

I am much more bothered by the use of the telephone by cold callers, because you have to stop whatever you are doing, and lift the phone, before you discover what they are.

@luskentyre

"What an ignorant, arrogant, unhelpful and unsympathetic response. That's like saying if you're getting harrassed in the street, don't go out. If you are getting abusive messages in your personal email then that is as invasive as nusiance phone calls."

I completely disagree with your analogy because if you get harrassed on the streets there are police on call to help (albeit a rare sight!)wheras the net have none and is a virtual space.

Simply change user names/boycott the site/or simply block that person.

It really is that easy.

The only place i foresee where people could be at risk is children at school and being bullied by kids in their class using the internet as a medium for it - but the schools and police SHOULD take action here.

Anyone who finds themselves at the receiving end of threatening and intimidating messages via the internet can only have got into the situation by their own hand.

They probably have nothing better to do than open and respond to every email they get, instead of deleting beforehand all those where the sender is unknown and/or there is no recognisable subject in the heading.

I'll bet they're all on Twitter and Facebook too.

Like the telephone companies, most ISP's will react to people abusing their service, if you give them sufficient information. However they are not the police. It is the police's job to deal with people committing criminal harassment.

These unaccountable self-elected pressure groups should avoid harassing the ISP companies to taking the role of judge, jury and executioner. The only result will be that the innocent majority pay for the sins of a tiny minority.

Seriously, there can't be less than twenty-one individual people online worth knowing offline, the remainder are bunked-up groups, that's your social problem.

"6. At 2:19pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:
Are you worried about cyber harassment?Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking?Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility?Yes

Next question, please?"

Will you be willing to pay more for a service that prevents this probably in the region of an extra £25 per month?

#11

Following on from this, I'd let the good Americans on the net as I know there are some good ones out there to talk to and have some fun with.

Judging by one of the other HYS's today, maybe the answer to internnet harrassment is to reintroduce the death penalty. That seems to be some people's answer for everything.

OK, non-facetious answer: prevention really is better than cure. Be selective with sharing your details online and maintain multiple e-mail addresses if you need to. The international nature of the net means you can never be sure you will have adequate safeguards.

The internet is a free for all and unless you need a licence to use the internet which you could compare to broadcasting so allowing you to be traced easily,then you allow some very dangerous people to pretend to be someone they are not and say anything.People defend their very right to say anything without threat from being taken to court.They want no national boarders and no interference from the real world by people like the police or goverment.
Cyber spacer`s think no one watches them and if the police are`nt and the isp then the malicious psychos are.But what do you expect when the naive followers of twitter actually believe that famous people don`t hire a PA to twitter for them while they get on with their own real lives and all is real.The internet is a liar`s dream come true.I don`t use social networks because some people and the past is not were i want to go.If you could travel back in time would`nt you want to be like a goodfella to your school bully and give them a smack.Thats what cyber bullies need,a smack.

The internet provides, especially to kids, the illusion of anonymity and the tools to do, show, say and threaten things that seem less 'bad' than they might face to face. But for the recipient, I can only begin to imagine the fear, stress and worry. If a pack of schoolkids is picking on someone online, it must be absolutely TERRIBLE for that person. I don't know what the solution is, though I tend to think it lies more in wider society rather than in online policing. But at least let's take it seriously. Some of these posters who basically are saying 'get used to it' would do well to imagine how they'd feel if it was their kid on the receiving end.

Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?
Should more be done to help pakistan?

No brainer

If I asked the latter
"Of course!"

If I (as the bbc) asked the former (which has been asked here) we then have this stupid, utterly stupid debate!

Come on Beeb - HYS is becoming a Blandfest

#22
At 4:36pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dave1506 wrote:

"6. At 2:19pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:
Are you worried about cyber harassment?Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking?Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility?Yes

Next question, please?"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Will you be willing to pay more for a service that prevents this probably in the region of an extra £25 per month?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Considering the effect it may have on future generations and the amount they will pay for themselves it pales in comparison.
Anyway how do you know it will cost £25. For all we know it could cost £1! And anyway are you worried about cyberharrasment? Does this mean you're not worried?

If you sign up to organisation like facebook you get what you asked for. Another issue is using your real name, don't. And I was told that decades ago. The policing of the internet is very difficult and needs a lot of thinking about. Basically it can't be done.

Saying ISPs have a responsibility is like saying "I was mugged on this street, the local council is responsible because they maintain the footpaths".

And asking ISPs to take action would be like saying to the above council "you must monitor everything I do with CCTV 24/7 to keep me safe". Firstly, not practical, and secondly, would you really want that?

Agree with a lot of comments so far. I personally don't facebook (or any other so-called social site) but I have seen it in action and must admit some users seem to be positively inviting bullying/unwanted attention/inappropriate attention etc.

further point; parents for goodness sake keep an eye on your kids when they are online, the internet is not a babysitter

The problem is not what should be done but what is by national laws (all different) and international law legally allowable to be done.

Granted that there are varying degrees of harassment there should be a range of options available to be applied by whoever sits in judgement on the harasser(s). These could range from internet disconnection for a limited time right up to termination......

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I don't use Facebook etc.

I understand this has come up because a young lady was harassed and finally gave up the job she had which meant she needed to be accessible on line.

As the other person involved has now been traced, I don't see why this could not have been done sooner, and she could have stayed in her chosen line of work.

So yes, I think there are instances where ISPs and the police could take action much sooner - in this case there were death threats.

"I'm sick of seeing the 'z' in American spelling."
----------
Funny. It's not American: it's English.

"
32. At 6:04pm on 28 Aug 2010, Wayne wrote:

Agree with a lot of comments so far. I personally don't facebook (or any other so-called social site) but I have seen it in action and must admit some users seem to be positively inviting bullying/unwanted attention/inappropriate attention etc.
"

In other words, just like the real world.

Internet service providers (ISPs) are not doing enough to crack down on cyber stalking, say victims' groups. How can cyber stalking be stopped?

2. At 1:25pm on 28 Aug 2010, Glenn Willis: Well Glenn, I couldn't agree more with your comment.
Harassment and Intimidation is a horrible act to carry out against anyone - though if you know who the perpetrator is it is possible to do something about it. However, on-line harassment - or cyber harassment, is particularly difficult to deal with, it is not impossible to deal with though as ISP's can make interceptions if instructed to do so by powers that be.

There is, I understand, softwear that can track the immediate source of e-mail or net-based messaging available, this tracks down the geographical location of the computer and from there the line being used then the actual locational source, it sounds easier than it actually is, as both the harasser and the harassed have to be on line to be able to get a link on the line, but not impossible.

I have never been harassed on line as such, but have had a couple of insulting emails - I just delete them.

But I am always very carefull what information I give out on line, not so much for fear of on-line harassment, but for the fear of identity theft.

With regard to RockingTheJoint's comment about being...

"sick of seeing the 'z' in American spelling. I do wish they learnt how to spell properly."

They are spelling properly. Good job Phosgene! :) It's not fair to say that they don't. Why pick on Americans? Does that mean that everyone else who speaks or writes in a different way is wrong? So non-UK English is wrong? It's their language, grammar, and their identity don't be prejudiced about it. If you don't want to see it, filter it! And stop complaining!

I agree with a lot of other users here, it's up to the individual to limit the amount of information given out. It's our responsibility to be safe in the real world, so why should it end online and be up to the ISP's? We need to be more careful about what we sign up to, who we share our details with. We don't go out and hand out our home addresses to anyone, so why should it be any different with email addresses?

There is no difference to telephone harrassment. Perfectly OK to telephone an old man, like Mr Sachs, and make rude comments, just like somebody from the Beeb did, sets a fine example.

Most cyber-bullying is actually quite amusing when you consider the perpetrators' inability to spell. You only need to reply using correctly-spelled words of more than 5 letters and it totally defeats them.

Pass a law make the ISP liable ,together with the sender of the harassment. I believe that would make the ISP act in a more responsible way .
facebook , bebo etc should have a small subscription and the account holder held responsible for any abuse
It might be the case that an internet passport to use to net be created

Once a person had been found guilty of Cyber Harassment. They should then go on a offenders register .They should only be allowed supervised access to the net and the legitimate account holder held responsible .

22. At 4:36pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dave1506 wrote:
"6. At 2:19pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:
Are you worried about cyber harassment? Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking? Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility? Yes

Next question, please?"

Will you be willing to pay more for a service that prevents this probably in the region of an extra £25 per month?

If necessary, yes. Especially when it protects my opinions from anonymous people like your good self.

"43. At 8:52pm on 28 Aug 2010, mikeriverside wrote:
Most cyber-bullying is actually quite amusing when you consider the perpetrators' inability to spell. You only need to reply using correctly-spelled words of more than 5 letters and it totally defeats them."


Death threats are amusing?

29. At 5:27pm on 28 Aug 2010, Syncs wrote:

#22
At 4:36pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dave1506 wrote:

"6. At 2:19pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:
Are you worried about cyber harassment?Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking?Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility?Yes

Next question, please?"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Will you be willing to pay more for a service that prevents this probably in the region of an extra £25 per month?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Considering the effect it may have on future generations and the amount they will pay for themselves it pales in comparison.
Anyway how do you know it will cost £25. For all we know it could cost £1! And anyway are you worried about cyberharrasment? Does this mean you're not worried?

-======================================
What? Seriously?

Ok, this being the case, I have a fantastic idea for a business. It involves buying some bandwidth from BT, and routing it through a few firewalls and block lists, to prevent just about all social networking sites and messenger programs from working. Then charge people that think this is a good idea £25 for it. Perhaps I should go on dragon's den?

Message 41 GeoGordy.

"So non-UK English is wrong"

Well YES!! Especially when you try to alter the meaning of the word, The spelling of the word, The context of the word , Then cheerfully proclaim that you speak English.
You do not speak English. You speak American a languaged based on English.
You are American therefore you speak american. Are you ashamed of your language, your heritage, your culture. America is a country made up of many peoples yet you say you speak English. English is a language steeped in the old order based on greek and roman with french, german and scandinavian thrown in. America rejects the old order and wants to be recognised as the leader of the new order. You could start by creating your own language based on English and leave the true English language to the experts. IE the British.

6. At 2:19pm on 28 Aug 2010, Dr Malcolm Alun Williams wrote:
Are you worried about cyber harassment?Yes

Is it possible to police internet stalking?Yes

Should ISPs take more responsibility?Yes

Next question, please?

--
No, no, and no.

I'm not worried about cyber harassment any more than I am worried about harassment in real life. You can always change your email address, logon id, account details if you don't wish to be harassed. You don't have the same luxury in real life.

It is impossible to police Internet stalking unless all our activities are policed on the Internet. Get real please.

ISPs (Internet Service Provider) are there for only one purpose: provide Internet service, access to the backbone network. Nothing else. Nothing more.

No more stupid questions please.

"How can cyber stalking be stopped?"

Obviously there will be cases when it becomes so extreme that the police need to be involved and ISPs will have to give up user details (subject to a court order) but in a lot of 'lesser' cases maybe the best bet is just to ignore it.

Harrassment only succeeds if someone gets harrassed and is provoked into a reaction. Emails can be deleted or sent to spam boxes, forums and social networking sites can be ignored etc. If one is worried about ones 'image' in the eyes of others then don't be: most people can see through online trolls and deviants, and do you rarely care about the opinions of those who can't?

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.

The person being harassed simply needs to remember the ditty that begins "Sticks and stones".

I see a number of posters here who seem to think the internet is the ideal tool for bullying i.e that if you sign up to social networking sites then you must expect this sort of thing, why? Why should I or anyone else expect to get bullied if some sad individual wishes to do so? And what kind of idiot suggests that users should expect it?

Bullying, I don't like to use harrassmant its too bland, bullying suggests cowardice which is exactly what these people are like, deeply unpleasant individuals, who it seems because of user names can hide behind these and give as much grief as they like withoiut being caught. This is unacceptable and I can't see why the providers can't do more about it.

What "victims' groups"? There is no such thing. It is abnormal to feel harassed by a PC.

I'm probably going to get shot down in flames here, but isn't the principle of defending yourself against internet bullying the same as defending yourself against bullying in the playground or workplace?

i.e. - keep your dignity, let the other person know esactly what you think of them, and if necessary, report them to the appropriate authorities?

I'm not 100% sure that relying on any kind of service provider to protect you from other people is any way to live, to be honest. And I don't actually include the disagreements on here to be bullying - that's just a disagreement (often quite a passionate one, which is good in a sense). Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. It's never nice, but it has to happen, otherwise you just get demolished as a functioning human being.

Basically, people need to start being a bit braver rather than running to hide behind mummy's apron whenever someone says or does something they don't like. I'm not being totally unsympathetic - it's just that crying wolf and not fighting your own corner is a weakness that will make the problem far worse.

Death threats and other harmful stuff like that - that's slightly different. That's the bad stuff, and I think people should be supported, at least a bit, to try and resolve the situation. Does anyone know if referring cases of threatening behaviour over the internet to the police is something that works? Can the ISP support an investigation? Does this ever work, if it happens? Or is it just a cursory lip-service type thing?

Never having been a victim (thank God) of that kind of behaviour I don't really know much about how it currently operates in that context. It would seem that it doesn't work well, whatever it is now, hence the article.

The young use their social networks as an extension to the playground/school it is therefore going to be used as a platform for bullying. In my opinion this makes catching school bullies easy as they have left a hard copy and are , usually, not very good at hiding theie identities.

Adults using the internet for slander and threats of violence should be treated as straight forward criminals and dealt with through the law. It is not difficult to trace these people as they are generally idiots.

The internet is a platform that can be used by the cowards in our society. They are usually social outcasts, boring, vindictive, deceitful, spineless, failures and probably ugly. They would have been the ones picked last in any team event and would never have had a friend. They would not have the confidence or self esteem to face their victim.

Adults who use the internet to stalk children should simply be give the coice of hanging or having their hands and sexual organs removed.

Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

Yes. Stop lefties posting on HYS.

At 2:40pm on 28 Aug 2010, RockingTheJoint wrote:
Well if I could have my way, I'd ban Americans from accessing the web since alot of them I found are disgusting and nasty people who abuse their 'freedom of speech' to start up arguments and throw around lame insults like how they stupidly think they saved the UK in WW2 when in fact they didn't.

_________________________________________________________________________

What pray tell has the question of whether Americans think they saved Britian in WW2 got to do with cyber harassment?



I'm sure if they ever have a HYS entitled "did America save Britian in WW2" you will be all over it like a vulture on a carcass.

The question on this question is about stopping cyberstalking, not political ideology.


Perhaps the following quote should be of some interest to you:

"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".


(By the way I am not American)

57. At 10:38am on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

Yes. Stop lefties posting on HYS.

///
I assume one of the other suggestions high on your impressive list of policies is to stop racism by killing all foreigners. Lefties can be patronising, self-righteous, arrogant etc, but you're kind of posting is the right's equivalent. I have to say though that I barely ever read intelligent, constructive posts from right wingers that put on some serious opposition to the left's sense of superiority. I think you deserve each other, and it can sometimes be highly entertaining watching you slug it out on HYS. A bit like watching two stray dogs fighting over a bone. And we all know how that story ends.

Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?



It may be possible to cut down on cyber stalking, but it is impossible to stop it completly if we want to keep a free and open internet.


ISP's should do all they can to minimise it while realising that to stop it fully would mean too much interference with people's privacy of the internet.

Looking through suggestions that bullying or harassment should be ignored as it can be in the playground.

The problem with online bullying is that you can make no judgment as to who you may be dealing with - a spiteful 10 year old who actually thinks they're being funny or someone who has found out where you live and is a potential rapist or murderer.

ISPs say their job is to help charities etc. It is also everyone's duty to co-operate with the police if a crime has been or may be committed - ISPs are not exempt. A threat of violence needs to be acted upon immediately. Not taking this into account in setting up their organisations indicates lack of foresight. But I'm sure the way to protect people will be blocked by the human rights committee.

"55. At 10:15am on 29 Aug 2010, Sheb76 wrote:
I'm probably going to get shot down in flames here, but isn't the principle of defending yourself against internet bullying the same as defending yourself against bullying in the playground or workplace?

i.e. - keep your dignity, let the other person know esactly what you think of them, and if necessary, report them to the appropriate authorities?

I'm not 100% sure that relying on any kind of service provider to protect you from other people is any way to live, to be honest. And I don't actually include the disagreements on here to be bullying - that's just a disagreement (often quite a passionate one, which is good in a sense). Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. It's never nice, but it has to happen, otherwise you just get demolished as a functioning human being.

Basically, people need to start being a bit braver rather than running to hide behind mummy's apron whenever someone says or does something they don't like. I'm not being totally unsympathetic - it's just that crying wolf and not fighting your own corner is a weakness that will make the problem far worse.

Death threats and other harmful stuff like that - that's slightly different. That's the bad stuff, and I think people should be supported, at least a bit, to try and resolve the situation. Does anyone know if referring cases of threatening behaviour over the internet to the police is something that works? Can the ISP support an investigation? Does this ever work, if it happens? Or is it just a cursory lip-service type thing?"



Much too slowly - this HYS follows from a woman who needed an onlnie presence for her work receiving death threats on a regular basis. She has given up her job after receiving no help. Now the weird person has been arrested, fined and has a restraining order placed upobn them. So finding them was possible, and presumably had this happened sooner the lady in question could have stayed in her job.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11118152

It's mainly kids we have to worry about. Parents (rightly these days) tend to be protective in the physical environment but turn a blind eye to the virtual world.

It used to be "Don't talk to strangers" (in the street). We now need an educational pogrom: Don't talk to strangers on the internet either. Above all, don't accept virtual sweeties from them.

Parents need to apprise themselves far more about the internet and social networking sites.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I take it that by "cyber harassment" the questioner does mean one's employer repeatedly contacting one outside of paid work hours by email, text etc.?

My understanding is that harassment is a criminal offence.

I would recommend employees who find themselves subject to the above report their employer to the police. If the police wrongfully take no action then report them to the relevant body in turn. It's the least we can do.

It's a real shame some vital points are being missed here about this serious issue.

In the interview the woman clearly states that she never once contacted the stalker yet they continued to harass her.

The other issue is that websites don't completely block people and then they can just set up a new page, with new 'identity' and continue their hate campaign.

The woman explained how she was sent death threats for five years, which is terrifying. Who she worked with can't be responsible for protecting her - that's like saying if you work for a shop your manager should be responsible if someone is abusive to you in the high street/town. The police are responsible for that and the same should apply online and it's been left unpoliced for too long.

She says she understands the whole web can't be policed but clearly and logically states that each site should be respoinsible for it's content and have relevant report functions. They should handle reports of abuse properly and if it's very serious they should then be able to forward it onto an online authority.

Once your name is published, for work or anything, you can't stop someone harassing or defaming you and anyway, why should it be up to the vitcim to hide and change their life? The offender should surely be the one to be tackled and brought to justice, surely?

The stalker who abused this woman endlessly for five years was reported numerous times it seems and the lack of understanding would be terrifyuing. Imagine there wasn't a nstandard police force and you had no one to report something to offline if you were abused! That's how it is online now and do you really think anyone should be subjected to that just because they use the internet?

You don't sign up online with a clause saying "I understand if I'm abused I just have to turn the computer off and go into hiding or just accept it". This woman was absued for five years so even if she turned it off the person was still online defaming her name and being offensive. They even were impersonating her, as she said, so even if she wasn't offline the stalker would cause problems for her when they posted abuse under her name inbewteen sending it directly to her. She was obviously the victim of a very vindictive and unhinged individuals behaviour. People like that need to be monitored - why should they even be allowed access to the internet if they are carrying out this kind of abuse?

I find it truly shocking that, in 2010, we are still waiting for proper online report functions and policing of abuse. It's all about time and money and the safety of people seems to not be taken into account straight away.

What this woman went through is awful and not to mention the psychological effects it would have, even after turning a computer off - it would bleed into your personal life offline, as she even stated it did and she even had to stop doing her work because of it. It's utterly disgusting that she even had to trace the stalker herself with no support. If she can do it, and she's not even a police officer then why can't the police?

If someone was uploading movies online it'd be dealt with very fast, they'd be arrested and fined - because it involves the loss of money for a company but why is abuse and defamation deemed not as serious by the public and authorities?

I hope anyone who goes through this kind of abuse gets justice and laws are brought in soon to better tackle this serious issue.

A few high-profile prosecutions would help loads.

Front page stories of people getting fined thousands for 'cyber harrasment' would soon see it drastically reduced.

Cyber bullying, harassment, stalking, whatever, can occur if you publicise yourself. It is no different to walking down the street loudly proclaiming who you are and what your business is, and its likely to either get up someone's nose or give them a reason to 'attack' you.

Advertising for attention has its upsides and its downsides, and you cannot have the former without the risk of the latter. Social skills and the rules of the game do not stop because you are 'invisible'. To stay out of trouble you remain 'invisible' and make sure your 'knowing' entourage is personal, private, and trustworthy.

59. At 11:03am on 29 Aug 2010, Wolfgang Semmelrogge wrote:

57. At 10:38am on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

Yes. Stop lefties posting on HYS.

///
I assume one of the other suggestions high on your impressive list of policies is to stop racism by killing all foreigners. Lefties can be patronising, self-righteous, arrogant etc, but you're kind of posting is the right's equivalent. I have to say though that I barely ever read intelligent, constructive posts from right wingers that put on some serious opposition to the left's sense of superiority. I think you deserve each other, and it can sometimes be highly entertaining watching you slug it out on HYS. A bit like watching two stray dogs fighting over a bone. And we all know how that story ends.

-----------------------------------------

Your assumption that I have any such belief is incorrect. My post above was intended to be a bit of light hearted humour. I would challenge you to find any post where I have run down anybody on the basis of their nationality. Your post is libelous.

Cyber bullying - yet another pathetic excuse to tighten up regulation on the internet.


Here's the don't s...

Don't give out personal information.

Don't use the main email address you use to communicate with friends and family.

Don't respond to the lunatics who want to stalk and harass.

Don't use facebook or any other site that requires your real identity.

Don't go around the internet acting like a victim, and you won't be one.

Above all, don't let your naive dumb children have access to a computer in the privacy of their own room.



Should the ISP's do more?

NO, why should they. They provide a service, they don't police the internet.


Aren't you being a bit harsh on these victims?

I have as much sympathy with these people as someone who jumps out into traffic, one day they'll end up underneath a bus, and it will be their own fault.


Do you give out your personal information to strangers or leave it lying around on a facebook page?

Of course I don't.


Have you ever been cyber bullied?

Nope!

Why do so many suggest that "the ISP should do more about this"?

Do you expect the electricity company to police how the service they provide is used? how about the water company or the gas company?

If I drown someone in my swimming pool would you suggest the water company had some responsibility since they had supplied the water? Of course not, that would be a ridiculous idea - so why do people expect the ISPs to do this?

The only thing an ISP should do is pass on the contact details for a specific IP address to the relevant authorities when an investigation is in progress.

69. At 3:20pm on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
59. At 11:03am on 29 Aug 2010, Wolfgang Semmelrogge wrote:

57. At 10:38am on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

Yes. Stop lefties posting on HYS.

///
I assume one of the other suggestions high on your impressive list of policies is to stop racism by killing all foreigners. Lefties can be patronising, self-righteous, arrogant etc, but you're kind of posting is the right's equivalent. I have to say though that I barely ever read intelligent, constructive posts from right wingers that put on some serious opposition to the left's sense of superiority. I think you deserve each other, and it can sometimes be highly entertaining watching you slug it out on HYS. A bit like watching two stray dogs fighting over a bone. And we all know how that story ends.

-----------------------------------------

Your assumption that I have any such belief is incorrect. My post above was intended to be a bit of light hearted humour. I would challenge you to find any post where I have run down anybody on the basis of their nationality. Your post is libelous.

///

Fair enough. Glad to see you agree with the rest of my post however, as that was a more important point I was trying to make.

"71. At 3:42pm on 29 Aug 2010, Jon Cooper wrote:
Why do so many suggest that "the ISP should do more about this"?

Do you expect the electricity company to police how the service they provide is used? how about the water company or the gas company?

If I drown someone in my swimming pool would you suggest the water company had some responsibility since they had supplied the water? Of course not, that would be a ridiculous idea - so why do people expect the ISPs to do this?

The only thing an ISP should do is pass on the contact details for a specific IP address to the relevant authorities when an investigation is in progress."


No, of course they cannot police their service.

They can respond immediately to complaints, particularly where threats have been issued. This appears not to happen.

If a workman employed by me causes a gas leak I expect the gas company to attend immediately, and I believe this view is shared by the gas companies.

"70. At 3:22pm on 29 Aug 2010, Some other person with a comment wrote:"


Did you follow the link to the story about the woman who was stalked?

72. At 3:44pm on 29 Aug 2010, Wolfgang Semmelrogge wrote:

69. At 3:20pm on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
59. At 11:03am on 29 Aug 2010, Wolfgang Semmelrogge wrote:

57. At 10:38am on 29 Aug 2010, Rupert Smyth wrote:
Should more be done to stop cyber harassment?

Yes. Stop lefties posting on HYS.

///
I assume one of the other suggestions high on your impressive list of policies is to stop racism by killing all foreigners. Lefties can be patronising, self-righteous, arrogant etc, but you're kind of posting is the right's equivalent. I have to say though that I barely ever read intelligent, constructive posts from right wingers that put on some serious opposition to the left's sense of superiority. I think you deserve each other, and it can sometimes be highly entertaining watching you slug it out on HYS. A bit like watching two stray dogs fighting over a bone. And we all know how that story ends.

-----------------------------------------

Your assumption that I have any such belief is incorrect. My post above was intended to be a bit of light hearted humour. I would challenge you to find any post where I have run down anybody on the basis of their nationality. Your post is libelous.

///

Fair enough. Glad to see you agree with the rest of my post however, as that was a more important point I was trying to make.

------------------------------------

No worries Wolfgang. The rest of your post is indeed valid. There is no doubt that on HYS individuals views become far more extreme than they probably are in the real world.

When two people with diametrically opposed beliefs that are strongly held get involved in a discussion about who is 'correct' things can esculate and get sillier and sillier and then we end up with as you rightly say two stray dogs fighting over a bone. :-)

I came to the belated conclusion that the internet can only be transactional and that also it is worryingly open to danger, notably any online purchase requires credit card/debit card details which can be trojaned by criminals.

I would ask politicians to require all hardware producers of PCs, mobiles etc to put up enormous guarantees that their products do not include inbuilt bugging components: I know that spies in the UK Establishment were interested in the make of my PC and subsequently placed Trojans on it. I'd like to be sure that this was not aided and abetted by Sony, Intel or anyone else for that matter.

I'd like a law requiring the information that you are being bugged officially to be supplied to the person being bugged. I can see a point to not saying who sometimes, but I don't see any justification for bugging most people without their knowing. It simply isn't acceptable, akin to spying on people partaking in sex, which was once referred to as PERSONAL.

Not that I hold any faith in any instutition to retain my personal information any longer.

I know my bank is as leaky as the Indus basin. I know that because too many people know of my transactions, such as purchasing railway tickets, people whose business it was not, people with scottish accents. People who worked in education. Doctors.

My emails are bugged by my family, quite what they get from it, the Lord knows. It was the final nail in any notion of respect, which started when my letters were read without my permission in 1990. Tells you something about 'high flyers' doesn't it?

Mobiles were bugged by ex work colleagues, why I don't know. Do they think it's 'business'. Perhaps it's business to tell their employers what nasty pieces of work they are? Probably not, their employers most likely use them in that regard........

It's an expense being a human being, once the media mafia get their hands on you.

No doubt that's old news in the BBC, isn't it?

Although I'm sure the taxpayer doesn't pay the corporation to spy on anyone, do they?????

Fundamentally, it may depend on your configurations and the inception of it at all levels of intercession. Same devices, same platform, same protocols and same moment in time may help some. Mobile Virtual Network Operators, Virtual Private Networks and proxy subnets might be avoided for intrapersonal communications. The virtualised machine has made meshy mists of server and storage and security frameworks e.g. DAS SAN NAS CAS ccNUMA COMS shmem iSCSII SATA SASi …

Keep off our internet! Leave it alone....the BBC constantly runs scare mongering stories about how dangerous the internet just so the government can have an excuse to remove anonymity as if facebook and google werent already trying their level best

I've been using PC's since the first BBC Micro landed in the shops and not once in all those years have I experienced even a virus attack never mind cyber bullying. Then again, I don't use social networks to communicate with friends that I have all over the world so, to me, the solution is simple - **stop using social websites**, they are unnecessary and obviously are the cause of all these reported bullying problems. On the other hand, 'sticks and stones.....'.

Oh you poor, poor sensitive dahlings of our time. Fancy being exposed to nasty, nasty cyber thingies. And woe, woe that other people upset you and don't worship you as Mumsy does. But dahlings, its just as awful in that other world, beyond your monitor, beyond even your front door. Yes even beyond the world of the IPZ's (I-Pod Zombies) when you are likely to encounter real people who communicate with you through your ears. (On the side of your head dahling). Yes - real people. And it gets worse dahlings, some of them might also be nasty and not adore you like Mumsy. But take heart dahlings, salvation is at hand, it is not pain free but it never fails dahlings. It is called "growing up" which when achieved makes all these nasty nasty cyber and real upsets disappear and you'll live happily ever after - dahlings. If that fails, join the Army.

Spare a thought for the Marxist BBC moderators who have to go through each comment ensuring it is Politically Correct and left wing in nature.

I'm not sure what can be done, as I consider myself still very new to all things hi-tech. I have a mobile, but the only one who has my number is my husband and vice versa. I have a computer but have never registered on facebook, twitter or any on-line chat services. So I guess there could be more the IS providers could do, but am I being too naive when I suggest that people be careful who they give their details/numbers to? I hope I'm not upsetting anyone who has been cyber bullied, as it must be a dreadful thing, and I don't know if it's possible for bullies to get hold of people's contacts or numbers unless they've been given them by someone.
Lastly do the police forces have detailed personnel dedicated to all kinds of cyber crime? If so, anything like this should be reported to them and hard copies of all texts etc. kept as proof.

Yes it can. Log off.

If anyone does not believe me then try and harrass me.

Bet you ten quid you cant.

Much too slowly - this HYS follows from a woman who needed an onlnie presence for her work receiving death threats on a regular basis. She has given up her job after receiving no help. Now the weird person has been arrested, fined and has a restraining order placed upobn them. So finding them was possible, and presumably had this happened sooner the lady in question could have stayed in her job.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11118152

_____________________________________________________

Damn. That is disgusting.

I mean, I still stand by what I said about 'bullying' - but what that guy did WAS NOT bullying. If you said that to someone, or wrote it in a letter or crank called someone - whatever - you'd get dealt with pretty quickly. At least, I hope so.

So why did the authorities dismiss it online? Why did they tell her to change her profile? If they found the guy after the damage was done, why didn't they stop him DURING?

Thanks for directing me there: I admit I missed the actual article.

That's not harrasment in my view - that's sickness. I'm not sure what appalls me the most; the crime or the response.

How about someone goes onto twitter and starts bullying one of the many MP's on there. Bet you get a knock on the door very quickly.

If you are stupid enough to provide on line personal details,points of contact pictures etc then really you deserve what you get!
In the real world you cannot avoid stalkers,bullies etc BUT in cyberspace you can.
Dont provide details in the first place-if you have change them-dont use the site-reformat your hard drive etc etc
No rules apply in cyberspace;it has no moral values or beliefs;its totally out of anyones control -you can be anyone you want and do anything you want and thats what makes it fun!

Don't use the internet,get rid of the mobile phone,change your name, anything, cancel direct debits etc... just get control of your own life back ,it's yours! Don't socialise on the web it's not real!!!

"86. At 10:30pm on 29 Aug 2010, ffiill wrote:
If you are stupid enough to provide on line personal details,points of contact pictures etc then really you deserve what you get!
In the real world you cannot avoid stalkers,bullies etc BUT in cyberspace you can.
Dont provide details in the first place-if you have change them-dont use the site-reformat your hard drive etc etc
No rules apply in cyberspace;it has no moral values or beliefs;its totally out of anyones control -you can be anyone you want and do anything you want and thats what makes it fun!"


Death threats may be your idea of fun. You may have no rules or morals yourself but they can and do apply out there. Hence the fine and restraining order.

"85. At 8:56pm on 29 Aug 2010, chrisk50 wrote:

How about someone goes onto twitter and starts bullying one of the many MP's on there. Bet you get a knock on the door very quickly."


Ok, but if I do that and get into trouble, can I blame/sue you for putting the idea in to my mind?

And the BBC for hosting the idea on their servers... and your ISP for allowing you to upload the idea... and your computer manufacturer (and Microsoft) for allowing you to type the idea in the first place.


You see... I am weak minded and need to blame other people for what is essentially my own doing.

81. At 7:24pm on 29 Aug 2010, Kuradi Vitukari wrote:
Spare a thought for the Marxist BBC moderators who have to go through each comment ensuring it is Politically Correct and left wing in nature.

///

Judging by the massive amount of right wing comments that do come through, I'd say they are either incompetent or non-existent. I have the feeling the latter is the case. And apart from that, I don't see the point of political INcorrectness. It has no purpose except to deliberately insult. If you want to express views or opinions as to why for example you don't foreign criminals to be thrown out, there are ways to express that opinion in an educated, informed, intelligent and articulate manner. That is the same everywhere, at school at work etc. Yet that seems to be the biggest challenge for so many people. Probably because it requires the power of thought.

If you sign up and give all your private information on a social networking site, dont be surprised if some fruitcake latches on to you.
Use what intelligence you possess and dont use these sites.

Why expect the Internet to be any different, people wherever are generally ignorant, unintelligent and frankly dim. IT is not to blame, just like the street is not to blame where you get mugged. As I said people are who they are! Get rid of GUI and bring back DOS, clueless!

90. At 11:28pm on 29 Aug 2010, Wolfgang Semmelrogge wrote:
81. At 7:24pm on 29 Aug 2010, Kuradi Vitukari wrote:
Spare a thought for the Marxist BBC moderators who have to go through each comment ensuring it is Politically Correct and left wing in nature.

///

Judging by the massive amount of right wing comments that do come through, I'd say they are either incompetent or non-existent. I have the feeling the latter is the case. And apart from that, I don't see the point of political INcorrectness. It has no purpose except to deliberately insult. If you want to express views or opinions as to why for example you want foreign criminals to be thrown out, there are ways to express that opinion in an educated, informed, intelligent and articulate manner. That is the same everywhere, at school at work etc. Yet that seems to be the biggest challenge for so many people. Probably because it requires the power of thought.

Dear Moderators

Please can you include within the lead-in to the topic something about how this issue arose with Elle so the "networking sites" and "get what you ask for" posts have a better understanding as to why this issue is being discussed at at all?

Oh, "got what you asked for" was attempted to be used frequently in defence of rape.

'89. At 11:27pm on 29 Aug 2010, Some other person with a comment wrote:
"85. At 8:56pm on 29 Aug 2010, chrisk50 wrote:

How about someone goes onto twitter and starts bullying one of the many MP's on there. Bet you get a knock on the door very quickly."


Ok, but if I do that and get into trouble, can I blame/sue you for putting the idea in to my mind?'



Yes, I think you should, but as you are probably not an MP (if you are you can call upon immediate support for increaed security arrangements), and chrisk50 will simply change his identity, no one will take any notice of you for five years.

Internet service providers (ISPs) are responsible for those crimes. They sell users' personal data to copyright lawyers, marketing companies and criminals, so that they can earn money from both side.

@83: You challenge us to harass you. Well, post your e-mail address here and we'll see what we can do to make your online life a living nightmare... :P

In response to those who view this as the fault of the victim by using their real identity or failing to log off or us the OFF switch: There are vulnerable people on the web. Some are vulnerable because they are required to use their names at work. I not only have to post my real name but also post a picture of myself online because my employer requires it. Others are vulnerable because they are young, new to the web, or unable to fully understand the potential impact of their actions. We have a duty to protect these people, whether you find it convenient or not.

In response to those raising the issue of civil liberties: I, too, am appalled at the level of monitoring and invasion of privacy in which the UK government engages. I, too, worry about the implications of this for freedom of expression. However, freedom of expression is an absolute right only so long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. In the case of on-line harassment there have been cases in which the law has been violated, but the authorities have either been unable or unwilling to prosecute. Failure to enforce the law is just as much as a threat to liberty as Big Brother.

I wish the government and the ISP's would spend less effort in monitoring everybody and spend more time tracking down those who break the law online.

This is simple just ensure that ISPs install "interception software" that collects all malicious IP addresses and automatically blocks them at source and to the target recipient.

Why is this not done already? Presumably a combination of greed and ineptitude by the ISPs.

Ban the internet.

All these comments regarding the ISPs inability to monitor miscreants online is bunkum.
to stop illegal reception of BBC breakfast news it was tried out simply by asking for the recipients e mail address before gaining access which would be corolated with a licence holders address. GOTYA. All this non existant security on the internet is by design its not bad luck or to intellectual to achieve it is simply neglect by the authoritise unless of course it serves THEIR purpose