Cyber-bullying reports up 55.6% in 2013

MALACCA: A total of 389 cyber-bullying reports were lodged by Internet users to the Cyber999 Help Centre in 2013, a 55.6% increase from 250 in 2012.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said one of the key factors of the increase in cyber-bullying was the preponderance of Internet users sharing personal information, including passwords, on social networking sites.

"Once a message is sent through a compromised account, especially involving negative elements, it damages the reputation of the real owner of the account," he told reporters after closing the Safer Internet Day 2014 campaign here Monday.

He said CyberSecurity Malaysia had introduced various measures to raise awareness on cyber-bullying among Internet users, especially students, such as organising the Safer Internet Day campaign yearly since 2010 to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology.

At the event, Abu Bakar launched the Cyber Security Handbook: Cyber-bullying handbook, published by CyberSecurity Malaysia, that explores cyber-bullying in the country and ways to address it.

The 19-page handbook is based on a study carried out on 9,651 primary and secondary school students nationwide by CyberSecurity Malaysia, the Education Ministry and DiGi Telecommunication Sdn Bhd in 2013.

"The study found that 13% of the 1,255 respondents admitted being victims of cyber-bullying while 26% or 2,509 confessed they had once been bullied online," she said.

Abu Bakar said the book would be distributed to the public free of charge and the Ministry targeted to meet 20,000 students this year to enlighten them on cyber-bullying. - Bernama