What is the appropriate punishment for cyberbullying?

By Ashley Soley-Cerro
May 11th, 2011
Section: Opinions - Question of the Day

Nearly eight months ago, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi posted a message on Facebook announcing his intention to commit suicide. “Jumping off the gw (George Washington) bridge sorry,” he wrote.

Clementi, who was 18-years-old, took his life after his roommate and another student used a webcam to live stream video of him engaging in homosexual acts.

Dharun Ravi, 19, has 15 criminal charges pending and faces several years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, bias intimidation.

Molly Wei, 19, is currently in a pretrial intervention program and may avoid jail time and a criminal record if she testifies against Ravi. She will also be required to do 300 hours of community service and get a job.

Many people think Ravi and Wei are responsible for tormenting Clementi into suicide, others see suicide as an individual’s decision and of no ones fault but their own.They are essentially being charged with cyberbullying, but there is some debate if it should even be classified as a crime.

If it is determined to be criminal, does it warrant several years in jail?

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  • eyes wide open

    This was a stupid, insensitive prank committed by a teenager, trying to show off to his peers. That it led to Tyler committing suicide is terribly sad and completely unexpected. If Dharun could have anticipated this from his roommate of three weeks, he would not have done it. Now he needs to be punished for his lack of judgement and complete disregard for the feelings of others. That actions have consequences is a lesson he has already learnt in the most extreme way possible.

    But bias hate crime charges? Come on. That is clearly politically motivated to pander to the LGBT community, without really addressing any of their issues, or committing to helping their cause in any way. And some free publicity on the national stage thrown in for the prosecutors. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that this case is not about justice anymore, it is about agendas.

  • Anonymous

    Cyberbullying is a crime. When someone goes in and knowingly chooses to attack another person it is done with vicious content so there is a criminal element to it. I will put it another way, if a school bully starts shoving you, it is an assault right? Cyberbullying is even more cowardly and there should be a punishment with it based on the severity of the crime. If libel and defamation are involved it can ruin a person’s reputation, business, or even their life forever. If you choose to go online and harass others, you have chosen to face the consequences. Ravi and Wei posted something without permission. While they perhaps shouldn’t spend years in prison, they should receive a severe punishment.

  • David the small-L libertarian

    This crime isn’t really what is referred to as “cyber-bullying.” This was a high-tech peeping-Tom case whereas the victim had every expectation of privacy. Yes, this was truly a crime, but cyber-bullying it is not.

  • Just wondering

    So Ashley, if you are not certain this is a crime, ask yourself this. If someone secretly video taped your sexual activity and broadcast it without your permission, do you think that might be a crime? Do you think you might be upset? Or would it just be a case of “cyberbullying”, nothing too important…