Cyber-bullying

Outten & Golden attorneys are experienced with advising employees who have been targets of cyber-bullying and helping them understand their rights and the available remedies.

Cyber-bullying is a broad term that encompasses use of electronic media, such as e-mail, instant messaging, online discussion groups, blogs, websites (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, etc.), telephone calls, voice mails, text messages, webcams, and visual and audio recordings, to intentionally harm another. Cyber-bullying can take many forms:

• Repeated and unwelcome telephone calls, e-mails, or text messages to the victim.
• Derogatory, abusive, humiliating, threatening, or defamatory postings or communications regarding the victim.
• Postings or communications known to be offensive or disturbing to the victim.
• Trickery of the victim through false personas and false postings and communications.
• Harmful impersonations of the victim in electronic postings and communications.
• Digitally altered photos of the victim.
• Secretly broadcasting or recording the victim on a webcam or other device.
• Sending computer viruses to the victim.
• Unauthorized access of the victim’s computer, e-mail, or online accounts.
• Encouraging others to engage in cyber bullying of the victim.

Our attorneys can help clients assert their rights against cyber-bullying under the many state laws that forbid it.