Social Media Websites Could Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullies’ Identities

The Internet has seen its fair share of bloodshed as cyberbullies continue to pound on unsuspecting people forcing them to actually commit suicide or crimes through influence and abusive language. Justice Secretary Ken Clarke wants to remove anonymity on social media websites Facebook and Twitter to punish those who continue to speak lies, slander and libellous comments online.

Justice Clarke said that Internet companies will need to give up the names and identities of their members who continue to bully other Internet users, or else the Internet company itself will face charges for hiding the identity of suspects in question. Clarke also cleared that the suspects identities are only to the eyes of government entities.      

Clarke stated that individuals have no defence against defamers and rumor-spreaders using libellous comments on social media websites and other Internet social services. Some people have lost their jobs and families because of false rumours spreading with victims accused of pedophilia, manslaughter and other offensive and obscene accusations.

Recently, other governments, including some states in the United States, formed legal “social media” squads, who would allow offensive expressions of opinion, yet would counter any form of threatening message that could lead to undesirable consequences.

Public opinion was divided about the new law. Some netizens state that the law was intrusive and threatening to the freedom of expression. However, others found that it made sharing ideas and opinioins much safer knowing that there is a law that could protect people who get bullied by an Internet community.