Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/290775
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 APRIL 2014 Opinion 24 Marlene Mizzi Cyber abuse: the social scourge of our time B y now most people will have heard about Ask.fm. For those who have not, this is a notorious social media website which allows users (who tend to be mostly teenagers) to post unrestricted, even abusive, comments anonymously on other people's profiles. There is also an app for the comments to be shared on Facebook, making the potential reach of the comments even wider. In the past few years, particularly in Ireland and the UK, the escalation of cyber bullying on this site has led to several documented cases of teen suicides. Tragically, we now have had the first case in Malta- at least one we know of - where cruel, nasty comments on this despicable site could have contributed to a tragic death. Despite repeated pleas and a massive online campaign by parents in the UK to close down this site, there are those who argue that banning these sites is not the answer, as another website will simply take its place. By the same argument, let us stop charging thieves with a crime because new thieves will always crop up! While some countries do have legislation in place on bullying and stalking via social media, there is still a divergence of opinion on whether it is even possible to try and control the open nature of the Internet or to regulate sites such as Ask.fm. Having said that, in August of last year Ask.fm did introduce some safety features, including more moderators, a bullying/harassment reporting button, raising the visibility of a function to opt out of receiving anonymous questions, limiting the number of features unregistered users could access and requiring an email address upon signing up. Still, despite mounting pressure from parents, Ask.fm have refused to eliminate the main bone of contention, which is the anonymity function. From the point of view of someone who wants to target another person, it is, of course, so much easier to write insulting, taunting and hurtful comments when no one knows who you are. You can torment and torture someone while your identity remains concealed, allowing you to become even more daring and outrageous in your comments. Anyone who has been at the receiving end of such harsh, anonymous comments can testify that this kind of cyber attack can be very unsettling and disturbing, particularly if the victim is already in a vulnerable state of mind. More than ever before, parents need to have the tools and information to understand what their children are doing when they go online. Malta is one of 33 countries participating in the EU Kids Online network, which aims to investigate children's online use and help parents to cope with the constantly changing experience of the internet, while sustaining an active dialogue with national and European policy stakeholders. There is also a database of all research being carried in the respective countries, including one study involving interviews with children from nine EU countries, including Malta. Children were asked what they perceive to be the risks when they use the Internet and what preventive measures they can take. It emerged that what parents deem to be risks are not necessarily seen as such by children and young people, particularly when it comes to sharing sensitive personal information and photos. Of course, Ask.fm and cruel, sadistic teenagers are not the only culprits. Adults, unfortunately, can also carry out this type of anonymous Internet abuse. Ironically, I had tabled a PQ, even before the recent tragic incident in Malta, requesting the EU to look into legislation that would address the use of anonymity through the use of a nom de plume or fake identities on websites, blogs, news portals, social media sites and any other online fora. While the European Commission has been active in curbing online abuse on social networks such as Facebook and Myspace to ensure young people and children are better protected online, I believe we should extend our concern to all forms of abusive Internet behaviour. I have questioned, for example, why registered administrators and owners of online fora are not held responsible for the comments being posted, in the same way that editors of traditional print media are. There seems to be little if any gatekeeping or moderation on many sites, which has encouraged a mean-spirited culture where people are not being held accountable for what they write, or what they allow to be written. I am in no way advocating the curbing of freedom of expression. The freedom to express one's views without suffering repercussions in any form or format is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. But freedom comes with responsibilities. One cannot use this fundamental right as an excuse to hurt, mock, vilify and humiliate at will. It is this sort of abuse - particularly if anonymous - that must be addressed by proper legislation. Freedom also means that citizens - public persons or not - have the right to live peacefully without being hounded, harassed and stalked by those who get a kick from doing so. This does not mean that public figures are not to be criticised on social media, absolutely not. Being criticized is part and parcel of being a public persona. It means that persons should be held accountable for what they write or allow to be written on the sites they administer within a legal structure. Anonymity is encouraging viciousness and hatred as never seen before. Some persons can take it, some are highly disturbed by it and some seek tragic solutions. We cannot allow this to go on, where people hiding behind false names and fake profiles can write whatever they like, no matter how vicious, malicious and even libellous it may be. The onus of responsibility should and must be on whoever runs the site, so that there is more vigilance on what is uploaded online. While comment is and should be free, this is only true if it is fair comment, fair criticism. While it is imperative that parents teach their children to cope with cyber bulling should they fall victim to it, we cannot ignore other vulnerable members of society, who may be experiencing a difficult stressful time in their lives and who cannot handle the added, unnecessary pressure from anonymous Internet abuse. They too must be protected and this protection can only come in the form of specific legislation to address this very serious issue. Citing freedom of expression as an excuse for allowing cyber bullying is doing a disservice to every decent citizen, every caring community and every civilised nation. Ironically, modern technology may make it impossible to curb this abuse completely, but appropriate legislation holding declared owners of sites, pages, blogs and other portals responsible for what they allow to be published will go a long way in preventing the aggravation, the hurt and the tragedies which these sites cause. That is why I will continue to insist with the EU to adopt legislation in the interest of its citizens and to give proper value and meaning to the slogan it is has adopted, that is ´The citizen comes first. ´ Marlene Mizzi is a member of the European parliament Freedom also means that citizens have the right to live peacefully without being hounded, harassed and stalked It is so much easier to write insulting, taunting and hurtful comments when no one knows who you are