In the state of Illinois, Senate Bill 2426 clarifies the definition of harassing someone by using electronic communication, such as the Internet and text messaging, and enables the prosecution of someone who anonymously bullies in this capacity. Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the bill into law last week, which adds social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to illegal venues for harassment. Those found guilty of cyberstalking could be charged with a Class 4 felony, which is punishable by up to three years in prison. A sentence can jump up by two years in prison for repeat offenders.
Awesome!
In addition, Senate Bill 2512, which also passed, requires school districts, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, to incorporate an “age-appropriate Internet safety unit of instruction in the current course of study regularly taught in the district’s schools.” The bill says students, grades three and above, should be taught how to navigate the Internet with caution. This new legislation also gives school boards the authority to determine the scope and time spent on Internet safety instruction. It requires the State Board of Education to make Internet safety resource materials available to school districts on its Web site.
Both laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
Both are extremely good news and will help in the fight against cyberbullying. There is no arguing that. However, you have to first catch the bullies. And for that you need a program that will record everything and give you evidence. Parental control and monitoring software like PC Pandora will let you know if your kids are being bullied, or worse – if they are the bullies themselves. Armed with the proper information, you can help solve the problem – and/or put a stop to it.
Below are three articles on the new laws, including an announcement from the Gov himself… Take a read…
Gov. Blagojevich Signs New Law Aimed at Protecting Citizens from Cyberbullying
From the Office of Governor Rod Blagojevich
CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed Senate Bill 2426, known as “The Cyberbullying Law,” in an effort to provide citizens new protections from electronic harassment and threats.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens is a top priority, and I am pleased to sign this bill into law today,” said Governor Blagojevich. “People in Illinois will now have added protection from cyberbullying, a serious threat in today’s increasingly technological society.”
Senate Bill 2426, sponsored by State Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore and State Sen. Ira I. Silverstein overwhelmingly passed in both the House (108-1-0) and the Senate (53-1-0). The bill is a response to the October 2006 suicide of a Missouri teenager who had received hurtful messages on the MySpace Web site from someone she thought was a boy she met online, but turned out to be a neighbor’s mother. The incident received extensive national attention, and more than 10 states have now passed laws to protect against future incidents of this nature.
This law clarifies the definition of harassing someone by using electronic communication such as the Internet and text messaging and enables the prosecution of someone who anonymously bullies in this capacity. SB 2426 becomes law January 1, 2009.
“Cyberbullying is a new, but troubling problem that needs to be addressed,” said Rep. Verschoore. “This bill takes real steps to deterring this criminal behavior and I am pleased to see the Governor sign it into law.”
“Numerous other states have taken the initiative and passed laws targeting cyberbullying. I am pleased that Illinois has joined those states, in the fight to protect its citizens against these harmful and hurtful acts,” said Sen. Silverstein.
Since February 2007, the Illinois State Police (ISP) Internet Crimes Unit has received 139 complaints of cyber-stalking.
“With the advancement of technology, law enforcement has observed an increase in criminal activity that has stemmed from electronic communications,” said ISP Director Larry G. Trent. “Law enforcement agencies throughout the State will now be able hold those individuals accountable that continue to torment or terrorize by unwanted or unwarranted electronic statements. The Cyberbullying Law will give everyone, including our children, the protection to use their electronic devices without fear of receiving a threat or becoming a victim of harassing and obscene communications.”
In 2006, Governor Blagojevich established the Internet Crimes Unit (ICU). This is a unique enforcement group capable of educating the public, gathering information from the private sector, coordinating investigations with other bodies and agencies of law enforcement, de-conflicting investigative efforts, researching crime, proactively searching the Web for criminal activity, and then performing the required forensic work to further investigative efforts and assist prosecutors in jailing offenders.
The ICU serves as a point of contact for the general public, schools and the law enforcement community for all concerns regarding Internet safety or crimes like identity theft, financial fraud and terrorism. The unit also serves as the initial point of contact for citizen inquiries; a repository for public safety information; provides statewide de-confliction for investigations; and offers criminal intelligence analysis for law enforcement agencies and computer evidence recovery for investigations and trial preparation.
For more information on the Internet Crimes Unit, visit: www.isp.state.il.us/icu.
New law targets cyberbullying
By Andrea Zelinski
Bullies are taking intimidation beyond the playground.
Text messaging dirty rumors. The posting of embarrassing pictures on Facebook or nasty comments on MySpace.
As technology-savvy students communicate through the Internet, as many as one-third say they’ve been a victim of cyberbullying, where schoolyard tactics of harassment and intimidation take to the Web, according to the National Crime Prevention Council.
“Texting, MySpace, that’s their life. That what they know. That’s what they use. That’s how they communicate,” said Clint Christopher, director of technology and curriculum at Moline School District. “For them, this isn’t a new or different way of doing it. That’s what they know.”
Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill into law this week that adds social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to illegal venues for harassment.
Those found guilty of cyberstalking could be charged with a Class 4 felony, which is punishable by up to three years in prison. A sentence can jump up by two years in prison for repeat offenders.
There’s already a cyberstalking bill on the books in Illinois, making it illegal to knowingly harass another person through the Internet.
“Nobody’s asked us to prosecute it,” said Jamie Boyd, Kankakee County state’s attorney, who said the new bill might encourage more people to report cases. “As far as we know, it’s not an issue in Kankakee at this point.”
The state added social networking sites to the mix after a 13-year-old Missouri girl hanged herself in 2006 thinking she was being rejected by a 16-year-old boy she befriended online.
The “boy” was really a neighbor’s mother posing as the 16-year-old, according to the U.S. State’s Attorney’s office. When breaking off the relationship, the woman allegedly told the girl, through the imaginary boy’s MySpace page, that the world would be better off without her.
“This is certainly not going to stop anyone from getting bullied. We have plenty of laws on the books,” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, one of two lawmakers who voted against the bill. “There’s a thing called an off and on button. If someone’s bullying your child, turn the computer off.”
The new law takes affect Jan. 1, 2009.
“The sad part is it’s out there and it’s there for everyone to read,” said Mike Tresnak, assistant principal at Ottawa Township High School, about cyberbullying. “If you say it in passing, it’s done. Once you say it in cyberspace, it’s permanently there.”
Web safety will be part of school curriculum
Beacon News staff
Next year, Illinois students will study Internet safety in addition to their traditional subjects.
This curriculum change comes after Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 2512, which was sponsored by House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego.
The legislation requires school districts, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, to incorporate an “age-appropriate Internet safety unit of instruction in the current course of study regularly taught in the district’s schools.”
The bill says students, grades three and above, should be taught how to navigate the Internet with caution.
“While our children are being introduced to computers and the Internet in the classroom, it makes sense for our schools as a component of computer education to provide basic instruction on how to remain safe while using the Internet,” Cross said.
This new legislation also gives school boards the authority to determine the scope and time spent on Internet safety instruction. It requires the State Board of Education to make Internet safety resource materials available to school districts on its Web site, according to Cross’ staff.
Cross, who was the bill’s chief house sponsor, called the Internet a “wonderful tool and resource,” but said, “this technology is also being utilized by adult predators seeking to gain access to unsuspecting children.”
Cross has cited social networking Web sites in the past, which have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, as an easy avenue for predators to take when scoping out unsuspecting children as prey.