PNP issues guidelines vs cyber harassment in time for school opening

Believing it might just be as harmful as a physical assault, the Philippine National Police has issued tips in fighting cyber harassment in time for the opening of classes on June 15. In the guidelines it published, the PNP Information Technology Management Service (PNP-ITMS) advised parents to take proper action instead of taking revenge on the harasser. "Some of the victims of cyber harassment, who are unable to handle it, either retaliate violently or in extreme situations commit suicide due to severe humiliation," the PNP ITMS said in a guide it posted on its website. The PNP defines cyber harassment as immoral behavior by a person or a group using mobile or Internet technology to send disturbing messages to bother, humiliate, threaten, or stalk someone else. Modern technologies that might be used to pester the possible victims include emails, instant chat messaging, blog and text messages, digital photos, videos and other means of electronic communication. "If you feel the need to respond to a cyber harasser, help your child develop appropriate preventive actions by asking if possible the parent or guardian of the child who does cyber harassment to stop the misbehavior," it said. The PNP also advised parents to filter email, instant messages and text messages and block mobile numbers to cut off ways the harasser can contact their children. "By having your child avoid the sites and groups where the attacks occur, he or she can ignore the harasser," the PNP said, adding that if harassment continues, they can change their children’s email address, Internet account, mobile number and user names. Warning signs The PNP advised parents to be aware of some the warning signs exhibited by children who might have been victims of cyber harassment. These include: * Displaying signs of depression, sadness, nervousness or fear – particularly if these signs intensify after the child uses the cell phone or after being online; * Avoiding friends, social activities, or school; * Experiencing difficulty with school or a drop in grades for no apparent reason; and * Expressing slight comments that indicate the child is disturbed or upset Legal action Parents can also take legal action by compiling a copy of all harassing messages and postings, saving the addresses of websites where hostile information, embarrassing pictures or negative messages are posted, then contact the child’s school. Even if the cyber harassment is not occurring in school, teachers and officials might be able to assist, the PNP said. Also, they can contact parents or guardian of harassers by sending a formal letter, or start a face-to-face conversation detailing the harassment messages sent. "The parents and their [child harasser] could be liable for civil or criminal offenses due to emotional damages," the PNP said. But if the situation is not resolved, or if physical threats are made, the PNP advised parents to contact the nearest police station. Types of cyber-harassment The PNP said contents a cyber-harasser may send include: * Offensive and confrontational message; * Foul words, cruel, hateful, and insulting remarks; * Threats, intimidation and false promises; and * Scandals or rumor mongering. It added that a harasser could bother the victim through several means: * Publication of secrets or embarrassing situations, including pictures or videos, for everyone to see and hear; * Publication of gossip or rumors for the explicit purpose of damaging the person’s character; and * Sharing of messages pretending to be the victim in an attempt to damage that person’s morality, friendships, family or work reputation to result in the separation of the victim from friends, co-workers and family. "In some cases, a cyber-harasser can also harass in face-to-face encounters. Harassing over the computer may be a natural extension of their disturbing behavior," the PNP said. But it also said some people who become cyber-harassers may be victims of harassment and are taking their anger and frustration into the Internet. They may be targeting the people who harassed them or they may have picked a different target, it said. Still others regard cyber-harassment as a game or joke, it said. Cyber harassment victims The PNP said most victims are children and the youth but there are also adults who are cyber-harassing grown-up victims usually women in the workplace. "Generally, cyber harassers know their victim, but rarely do they pick victims they don’t know. In these situations, the cyber harasser is picking on someone based on a type of bias or prejudice. They may pick on people based on religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or people who are considered different from their point of view," it said. At other times, they will pick on someone based on a message that he or she has posted or sent that the harasser does not like. The PNP said many people mistakenly think that “words, pictures or videos can never hurt." "In the internet, on the other hand, cyber-harassers can conduct harassment at any given time and place, thanks to modern technology. As long as the victims are identified and online, they are open to cyber harassment," it said. The PNP said people who commit cyber harassment pick on an individual just to enjoy the power that the act gives them, financial gain or favor. "Because the Internet seems to give anonymity, cyber-harassment is often seen to have less liability to the cyber-harassers, which can encourage them to continue and be aggressive," it said. LBG, GMANews.TV