Legislation

=Legislation=

Communications Decency Act
prevent obscenity on the internet while still promoting the protected forms of free speech civil liability for internet providers to in "good faith" to monitor or restrict use illicit content by their users

44 States have legislation regulating bullying, harassment, and intimidation

 * cyberbullying is a challenge to fall into legislation
 * most of cyberbullying is anonymous
 * bullying laws can be stretched to include cyberbullying
 * cyberbullies may be charged under laws for harassment or stalking

Several States have laws that deal directly with cyberbullying

 * these are normally in the form of cyberstalking statutes
 * more related to cyberbullying than traditional stalking laws
 * most of the cyberstalking statutes need a creditable threat however, cyberbullies harass victims without making a violent threat
 * North Carolina it is a misdemeanor to participate in cyberbullying
 * Missouri cyberbullying is a crime that may result in jail time or fines
 * 20 states have enacted laws to combat cyberbullying
 * Indiana, Oregon, and Kansas have laws that specifically mention the term cyberbullying
 * most laws on cyberbullying focus on the public school setting by requiring school boards to set policies prohibiting cyberbullying

Illinois Cyberbullying Laws

 * not constrained to the public school setting
 * it prohibits harassment through electronic communications at large
 * the law applies to adults and students in the public school setting
 * prohibits the electronic communication intended to harass someone under the age of 13